Newsletter 09/09/22
12 September 2022
Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.
East Grinstead Town Council’s Statement on the Late Queen Elizabeth II
The East Grinstead Town Councillors and Staff are deeply saddened to hear the announcement of the death of Her Majesty. I will be writing to the Palace to express our condolences in the coming days.
As a mark of respect, the Union and Town Flags will be flown at half-mast until the day of the funeral. On Proclamation Day (Saturday 10th) the flags will be returned to full mast from the point of the National Proclamation in London of the New King, at 11.00 am and lowered again at 15.00 on Sunday 11th. On Sunday all are welcome to attend a church service at St Swithun’s Church at 12:00 noon and then at 15:00 the Proclamation will be read on the terraces at the rear of East Court Mansion.
An official book of condolence from the Town will be set up from Friday 9th September at East Court and is available for the public to sign with messages of condolence from 10.00 – 16.00 Monday to Friday and on the day of the funeral. Anyone that wishes to make an entry at a time outside of the opening hours should contact the Mayor’s Secretary on 01342 323636 or email towncouncil@eastgrinstead.gov.uk for availability. The books will close the day after the funeral. There will be an online link from the Town Council’s website to the National Book of Condolence maintained by Buckingham Palace.
On its closure, the hard copy it will be sent away for binding and then kept here as an official record. My letter of condolence will indicate this fact for the palace records.
Other books may be opened in other public buildings.
Floral tributes that the public wish to lay should be taken to the wall of remembrance at Mount Noddy Cemetery. The Town Mayor has laid a wreath from the Council.
Civic engagements will be reconsidered and those that are deemed appropriately sober during the period of mourning will be attended as planned. Event organisers where it is not deemed appropriate to attend during the period of mourning will be contacted with apologies relayed. I hope that I will be able to attend a later event for your organisation.
This is a sad time for the Country as a whole, residents of East Grinstead are encouraged to share their feelings with others, use the books of condolence and attend the civic service.
Cllr Adam Peacock
Town Mayor
Remembering Queen Elizabeth II (West Sussex CC)
West Sussex County Council joins the nation in mourning the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
The flags on public buildings around the county have been lowered to half-mast.
The Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex, Lady Emma Barnard, and The Chairman of West Sussex County Council, Cllr Pete Bradbury have released statements speaking of their sadness following the announcement that Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, died peacefully yesterday at Balmoral.
Details for the reading of The Proclamation and where to find Books of Condolence are also provided below.
Statement from the Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex, Lady Emma Barnard
| “This solemn day is one of profound sadness, as news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second goes out across the world. It is a milestone in our history, and it marks the gentle and dignified close of the longest reign of any monarch this country has ever known.
“She was part of us all, held fast in the hearts of millions of people with the deepest respect, admiration and, above all, love. I know that I speak for so many when I express my heartfelt gratitude for her, for her selfless and steadfast service to her people, for all she did for us and for the world, and for the extraordinary example she set. Her memory will endure. May she rest in peace. “My thoughts and my prayers are with all the members of the Royal Family, as well as with Her late Majesty’s staff and household. I have sent a private message of condolence to the Royal Family on behalf of the people of West Sussex. “In particular, my thoughts and prayers are with The King, as he prepares for his Coronation and for the days to come. I hope and believe that he and his family will be sustained in their grief by the deep affection that will be shown for his mother as she is laid to rest, and that he will be strengthened by this as he takes his place as our Monarch and a new chapter of our history is born. “God save the King.” |
Statement from the Chairman of West Sussex County Council, Councillor Pete Bradbury
| “This is a terribly sad day for the nation and the people of West Sussex. Her Majesty has a long association with our county. She was dignified and gracious and held in great affection by the public – this was clear to all when the country joined in celebrating her reign through the multitude of Platinum Jubilee events.
“Her Majesty’s passing represents the end of an era for our nation and I know many people will want to pay their respects in the coming days.” |
Reading of The Proclamation outside County Hall on Sunday
| In keeping with tradition, The High Sheriff of West Sussex, James Whitmore, will make the public announcement, known officially as The Proclamation, on the steps of County Hall, Chichester accompanied by the Lord‐Lieutenant and the Chairman of the County Council.
Date: Sunday 11 September 2022 Time: 1.00 pm Location: Steps of County Hall, West Street, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 1RQ. Members of the public are invited to attend the historic event and pedestrian access is through the front of County Hall from 12 midday. Access is from West Street. Please note: there will be limited standing capacity in front of the steps, so not everyone may be able to witness this historic event if capacity is reached. Pictures and videos will be made available after the ceremony and local media are expected to be there. |
Memories of our Queen
Her Majesty The Queen visited West Sussex on many occasions.
The first was when she was almost three, staying with her grandfather King George V, who was convalescing in Bognor. The young Princess delighted in making sand pies with her grandmother, Queen Mary, and watching her have fun on the beach provided a tonic for her grandfather who later bestowed a royal suffix to the town, making it Bognor Regis.
The most recent visit by Her Majesty was in November 2017, when she visited the Canine Partners charity in Midhurst. The charity trains dogs to assist people with physical disabilities. In the afternoon The Queen was at Chichester Festival Theatre where she watched a production by the Youth Theatre.
Other places she has visited included Crawley, Goodwood, Felpham, Gatwick, Durrington, Burgess Hill and Christ’s Hospital.
Pictures from some of these visits can be seen online.
If you would like to view other historic photos of the late Queen please visit West Sussex Pictures and search for ‘Queen Elizabeth II’.
Books of condolence
An online book of condolence has been opened on Buckingham Palace’s website: www.royal.uk
Residents who do not have online access can post a message of condolence to the Chairman’s Office, Room 102, West Sussex County Council, County Hall, Chichester PO19 1RQ.
Our 36 libraries across West Sussex can support anyone who would like to use a public computer to access the online book of condolence.
If you would prefer to record a written message then we are able to collect these in our libraries and they will be collated with other written messages received by the Chairman of the County Council.
CGR Final Recommendations
The CGR final recommendations report due to be considered by the Scrutiny Committee for Community, Leisure & Parking on 14th September, is being published later today. Please see attached link.
NALC Newsletter
|
|
|
|
|
|