I am writing this message after what, I expect many of you have been doing too, watching the solemn, yet absolutely magnificent Funeral of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll. What an event to have witnessed. My heart goes out to the family of The Late Queen, they have been steadfast and tireless in their duty, just as she was throughout her long reign.
I was only ever lucky enough to see the Queen once, she came to open a swimming pool in Bolton in 1988, close to where I was working. We were all given permission to go out and watch her arrival and departure. So out we trouped and I saw her sat smiling and waving in the Royal car, wearing the most beautiful blue outfit. She looked lovely.
On the 8th of September, Steve and I were at a reception, prior to going into dinner at Chartered Accountants Hall. It was to have been hosted by Alderman Nicholas Lyons when the news broke. It was a shock. Yet, we all had been following the news and we knew the end was nearing, so why was it a shock? I suppose we all thought she would be with us forever, no-one likes to think of the end. Dinner, went ahead, though all speeches and formalities were dropped. We were told to enjoy our food, reminisce about our Queen and to leave quietly after dinner. And so, we did. That evening was one of those, where were you? moments, as indeed it was for all of us.
As you may have expected, a lot of formal City Events were cancelled, including the Jailed and Bailed which was to have been tomorrow, Tuesday the 20th. The money raised will still be sent to The Red Cross and I’m hopeful of a re-arranged date. However, some social events still went ahead, one of which was a supper held by The Company of Watermen and Lightermen of the River Thames. There we were regaled with stories of Her Majesty, as there were several ex-members of the Royal household present.
On Saturday the 10th, I was invited along with other Masters to be present at the Second Proclamation which was read at the Royal Exchange. The ceremony was the second reading of the Accession Proclamation it was met with applause and cheers of “God save the King”. Timothy Duke, the Clarenceux King of Arms, read the proclamation in front of the Lord Mayor, Court of Aldermen, High Officers, and members of the Common Council. It formally announced the death of Queen Elizabeth ll and proclaimed the succession of the King. Both Senior Warden, Simon Fordham and I were there and we met an American couple who were over for their first trip to the UK. They certainly picked a momentous week to visit this country and had made a point of bearing witness to all the public events.
A wonderful and moving Service was held yesterday, Sunday the 18th of September at Southwark Cathedral. A Service of Thanksgiving for the life and reign of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll. Led by The Right Reverend Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark and The Very Reverend Andrew Nunn, Dean of Southwark, our Honorary Chaplain. Steve and I, along with fellow Masters from the Glaziers’ Company and the Scientific Instrument Makers’ Company were invited to attend. After the Service, everyone filed out and met friends old and new. We also witnessed the queue for the Lying in State, so many people filing past, slowly and good naturedly. One group of nuns were singing and smiling as they queued, they were spotted by The Dean, who rushed over to speak with them, something I am told had been happening all week, as the queue made their way past the Cathedral.
It has been an extraordinary period, the ending of one era and the start of another, yet we have all been blessed that Her Late Majesty was in our lives as a constant throughout.
RIP Your Majesty and God Save The King.
