Lichfield Cathedral plans packed programme for Jubilee weekend

Lichfield Cathedral has a packed programme for the extended bank holiday weekend where the community can celebrate the Queen 's Platinum Jubilee.

Starting off the celebrations over the bank holiday will be a special event to light the Platinum Jubilee Beacon outside Lichfield Cathedral, alongside more than 1,500 other locations across the UK and Commonwealth. The event at Lichfield Cathedral will see the stunning mediaeval cathedral illuminated in red, white and blue.

Bells will be rung to start the proceedings at 21:30 outside Lichfield Cathedral followed by an official announcement from the Town Crier.

A performance will follow by Lichfield Cathedral Jubilee Choir of the 'Song of the Commonwealth ', written and composed by Lucy Keily from Australia and Vincent Atueyi Chinemelu from Nigeria.

A piper will play 'Diu Regnare ', a unique tune written for the occasion by Piper Major, Stuart Liddell, and a bugler will announce the lighting of the beacon with a special bugle call entitled 'Majesty '. Refreshments will be available from a kiosk outside the cathedral on the evening.

Throughout the weekend Lichfield Cathedral will be open to visitors (Thursday, Friday & Saturday 10:00-17:00, and Sunday 12:00-17:00).

For details of opening, available tours and services visit: www.lichfield-cathedral.org

Finishing off the weekend of celebrations will be a special Choral Eucharist on Sunday 5 June at 10:30 in Lichfield Cathedral.

As well as the pomp and circumstance of the official Platinum Jubilee Beacon, Lichfield Cathedral is working with Lichfield Foodbank to call for special donations of food to families in need.

“On this joyous occasion, as we all celebrate in our own ways, it should be at the forefront of minds that there are thousands of households in the UK who are struggling to put food on the table, ” explains the Very Rev 'd Adrian Dorber, Dean of Lichfield.

A donation point is available at Lichfield Cathedral every day, however a dedicated 'Big Jubilee Lunch ' donation area will in place from 28 May until 3 June in the North Transept. Lichfield Foodbank suggest the following donations are the most needed items:

• Tinned meat
• Long-life milk
• Long-life fruit juice
• Breakfast cereals
• Tinned vegetables
• Tinned custard
• Tinned fruit
• Tea bags (x40 and x80)
• Tinned custard
• Chocolate
• Snack bars
• Tinned soup
• Tinned beans

Dorber concludes: “We are asking that all Lichfeldians, as they make their preparations for the extended bank holiday weekend, consider making a donation to Lichfield Foodbank. ”