The principle beacon was lit by Pageant Master of D-Day 80 Bruno Peek and 99-year-old veteran Vera Brett at 9.15pm where a special service was held featuring music from the Royal Marines Band Service. Afterwards hundreds of other beacons were also lit as part of the commemorations for D-Day – including a beacon outside Southsea Castle.
The beacons and ceremonial torch, both of which have been specifically created and donated by BA Systems for the occasion, contain sand from the five Normandy beaches the allies landed on within the base and handle.
Photographer Sarah Standing captured these scenes:
Photographer Sarah Standing captured these scenes:
![The D-Day beacon lighting was set against a backdrop of HMS Prince of Wales which is currently in her home port of Portsmouth](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjQ2Nzc1N2JkLTMwMmQtNDg4OS04ODBjLWQ3Y2QyMmQ2Y2NmMjo5M2VjNTMwYy03NjI5LTRlZjgtYmJmZS1kMDQxNzhlMmE0YzE=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
5. D-Day Beacons
The D-Day beacon lighting was set against a backdrop of HMS Prince of Wales which is currently in her home port of PortsmouthPhoto: Sarah Standing
![A piper playing at the beacon lighting](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjc5MzRmN2Y4LWMyYTAtNDk0My04NTZlLWFjNzJhOTg4NjFiNDo2M2YzNGE2YS04NWQxLTQ0YjktOTA4YS1iM2YwYzdjYTFmNTA=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
![The beacons being lit by 99-year-old veteran Vera Brett](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjIwZjFkZDQ1LWI1OTctNGUzMy05ZjhkLWJhYTVmYmFjMjdlOTo4ZDJjMWZkZC04ZTIzLTQ5YzQtYmQ3MC00ZTg2MDkxZmQ1ZjU=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
7. D-Day beacons
The beacons being lit by 99-year-old veteran Vera BrettPhoto: Sarah Standing
![Jack Chapman from BAE Systems who was part of the team which put together the Principal Beacon](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjI1MjM2ODUxLTg5YjAtNDQwZC05ZWQ1LTA3YmNmZGRkOWQ3NDplMGU0ODg2My0xODE4LTRkMTYtODY5MC1mZTdjZmE0M2YxZjU=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
8. D-Day beacons
Jack Chapman from BAE Systems who was part of the team which put together the Principal BeaconPhoto: Sarah Standing