Beacons to celebrate Golden Jubilee

To celebrate the Queen's Jubilee tomorrow, beacons will be lit on 10 of Malta's historic forts and towers, making Malta the country to light up most beacons for the occasion, Din l-Art Helwa said.

The beacons will be lit straight after the handover of the Queen's Jubilee Baton Relay at the ceremonial arrival of the baton from India. President Guido de Marco will be lighting the first beacon at Fort St Angelo bastion at 8.35 p.m. It will be followed by beacons at St Thomas Tower at Marsacala and St Lucian Tower at Marsaxlokk.

The relay follows with beacons being lit at two minute intervals at seven of the coastal towers built by the Knights of Malta and each restored by Din L-Art Helwa. The beacons will be lit by the society's volunteers.

The beacons will be lit in the following order: Torri Mamo, Zejtun; Ghallis Tower, Naxxar; Qalet Marku Tower, Naxxar; Wignacourt Tower, St Paul's Bay; St Agatha Tower (Torri L-Ahmar), Mellieha; St Mary's Tower, Comino; and, at 8.53 p.m. Qawra Tower, Dwejra, Gozo. The Gozo tower will be lit with the help of the Gozo Scouts.

Beacons used to be lit on the towers at night in the time of the Knights of Malta to relay messages back to the Grand Master in Valletta to warn of any approaching enemy. During the day banners and flags were used.