Coronation Beacon Lighting Ceremony - Friday 5th May 2023

Thank you to everyone that attended the Coronation Beacon Lighting Ceremony last night at Finche Field, and thank you to the West Hoathly Royal British Legion for organising the event.

For those that were unable to hear the Chairman's few words before the lighting of the beacon, please see below.

Welcome to the start of the Coronation celebrations in the Parish of West Hoathly.

362 years ago in the Spring of 1661 after an earlier period of political turmoil, chaos in Parliament and economic decline, the Second Charles was crowned King. Notwithstanding the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London the Country entered a period of prosperity and confidence not seen since the days of Queen Elizabeth I.

Tonight, as we light the Beacon for a second time in less than a year, let us hope that it is a pointer to better times ahead and a new era of change, prosperity and happiness for our Country and our World. I believe it is the ambition of our new KingCharles III, to be inclusive of all faiths and none, to continue his lifelong fight for the environment and to strive for the education, strength and fitness of our children – for they are the future.

I for one will support him in these ambitions as he inherits a role that is challenged by the future and by the past. God Save the King.