Queen's Platinum Jubilee: What's going on in East Lothian

On February 6, the Queen became the first British monarch to celebrate a platinum jubilee.

Now, events are taking place across the county to celebrate the jubilee, both on the day itself next Thursday (June 2) and at the weekend, including the lighting of beacons at communities along the coast.

Musselburgh and Wallyford

As well as the lighting of beacons, musical tributes, a children’s gala and street party are being held in the Musselburgh area to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee.

Beacons will be set alight in Musselburgh and Wallyford to link in with the national tribute at 9.45pm next Thursday.

In Musselburgh, a beacon, located on the beach near Fisherrow Links, will be lit by Musselburgh resident Iain Clark, Deputy Lord Lieutenant for East Lothian, as part of a public event organised by Musselburgh and Inveresk Community Council.

As the beacon is set alight, the Musselburgh-based Clark Community Choir will sing A Song For The Commonwealth.

Prior to the lighting ceremony, Musselburgh and Penicuik Boys’ Brigade Pipe Band will play Diu Regnare, which will be followed at 9.40pm by a bugle call entitled Majesty.

Wallyford Community Council has erected a jubilee beacon on the grass area at St Clements Gardens North which will be lit by Councillor John McMillan, Provost of East Lothian.

The ceremony will get under way at 9pm with a performance by musicians from the Penston Brass Band.

The Queen visited Musselburgh Racecourse in 2016. Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Musselburgh’s tribute to the Queen will continue with a street party at Newhailes Avenue next Friday (June 3) and, to tie in with the jubilee celebrations, Musselburgh and Inveresk Community Council has brought forward its annual children’s gala on Fisherrow Links to next Saturday (June 4), from noon until 4pm.

A variety of attractions are on offer at the gala, including fairground rides, magic and acrobatics from entertainer Alexander the Great, face painting, tea and sandwiches served by The Brunton Bistro, burgers by Sizzlers and goodie bags with juice, crisps and sweets provided by the community council.

Tickets for the gala are available from The Brunton box office at a cost of £1.50.

North Berwick

Meanwhile, in North Berwick the celebrations will begin at 1.45pm next Thursday with a proclamation to announce the arrival of the jubilee being read from an elevated position at the harbour at 2pm.

This responsibility will fall on Deputy Lord Lieutenant Hilary Cochran, as the town does not have a town crier.

From 1.45pm to 5pm, a harbour fête will take place on the esplanade, and a farmers’ market with stalls from local businesses and community groups will be held.

At 9.35pm, Lyle Crawford and Eddie Clark, a piper and drummer from North Berwick Pipe Band, will play Diu Regnare. At 9.40pm, a solo bugler will play Majesty.

At 9.45pm, Mrs Cochran will then light a beacon, while The Gospel Choir North Berwick sings A Song For The Commonwealth.

At 10pm, a jubilee tart will be distributed by members of North Berwick Youth Project, containing four ingredients, one for each constituent country of the UK.

Cockenzie and Port Seton

In Cockenzie and Port Seton, a beacon lighting, choir, service and speeches take place from 8.45pm next Thursday.

The first beacon will be lit at Port Seton Harbour before a parade led by Preston Lodge High School Pipe Band marches to Cockenzie Harbour for a second beacon lighting.

Entertainment will be held in Cockenzie Royal British Legion afterwards.

Meanwhile, a day of fun at Cockenzie House and Gardens will be held next Friday.

The Coronation Games – featuring hook the duck, table tennis and snakes and ladders – are held from 11am until 4pm, with refreshments provided by The Filling Station.

Dunbar

In Dunbar, the Battery hosts the lighting of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacon at 9.30pm next Thursday.

Next Friday, Dunbar celebrates the jubilee with a picnic in the park.

Plenty is promised between noon and 3pm, including children’s crafts and fun activities, among them a family treasure hunt, cupcake decorating and rock painting.

Music from the 1950s and 1960s is planned, as well as ceilidh music.

A bake sale will also take place and those looking to attend are asked to bring their own picnic, as well as chairs or blankets to sit on.

The event has been sponsored by Dunbar Community Council and the Rotary Club of Dunbar.

Also, until June 12, families can follow clues throughout Dunbar town centre as part of celebrations for the jubilee.

A High Street Safari lets families take part in a fun story trail with the help of their smartphones.

The interactive tour takes about 45 minutes and offers participants the chance to discover characters along the route, see them burst to life in augmented reality and take selfies and record videos with them.

A map of the tour – and more details on how to play – can be found online at: highstreetsafari.com/locations/jubilee-dunbar

The event is organised by Dunbar Trades’ Association.

Prince Philip and the Queen during a visit to Haddington in 1973. Image: Lost Haddington

Haddington

In Haddington, Haddington Festival Week, which runs from May 29 to June 4, has a Kings and Queens theme this year to mark the jubilee.

READ MORE: Haddington Festival 2022: Full event listings

Tranent

In Tranent, a jubilee afternoon tea is held each day from Wednesday to next Saturday, between 9am and 2pm, at The Fraser Centre.

The centre’s cafe will be decorated for the occasion, while events from the jubilee celebrations will shown on the cafe foyer screens.

To book a place, call 01875 617444 or email catering@thefrasercentre.com

Longniddry

In Longniddry, a Prosecco afternoon tea will be held in celebration of the jubilee.

Longniddry Royal British Legion hosts the event next Sunday (June 5), 1pm to 5pm.

Tickets cost £10 and can be bought by phoning 01875 853241 or 07999 315332.

Gifford

In Gifford next Saturday, Yester, Bolton and Saltoun Church is hosting a garden fête with a jubilee theme.

The event takes place in the Manse Garden on Tweeddale Avenue between 2pm and 4.30pm.

The afternoon will include, tea and coffee, a tombola, live music, games, a raffle, ice cream, refreshments, home baking and a plant stall.

There will also be a stall hosted by Gifford Community Woodland.

Tickets are £4 and include a cream tea.

Children under 12 go free.

Garvald

Next Sunday, a 1950s street party is being held in Garvald to celebrate the jubilee.

The event takes place at Garvald Village Hall from 1pm and includes food from the Garvald Inn.

Visitors are encouraged to bring along sharing plates of salad or accompaniments. The event is also BYOB.

Activities include hula hooping, skipping, dancing, boules, volleyball and more.

The activities will end with an Orcadian Strip the Willow.

Macmerry

Meanwhile, a jubilee-themed litter pick takes place in Macmerry next Saturday.

As the first June group litter pick conducted by Macmerry Litter Squad falls on the jubilee weekend, the group has decided to do a themed litter pick, with plenty of sweet treats for those attending.

Litter pickers should meet at Macmerry Park at 10.30am.

Monksmuir

There will also be celebrations at Monksmuir Park, near Haddington and East Linton, next Sunday.

Residents are marking the Platinum Jubilee with live music.

A spokesperson for the event said: “Volunteers will be hoping for fine weather as they prepare to decorate with posters, bunting and balloons.

“A raffle will be held in thanks for our NHS and Cancer Research UK.

“A big thank you to everyone who has helped out with preparations, especially to our fantastic bakers/cook as they prepare tea treats for everyone.”