Tributes to the Queen

Image above: Bus stop in Chiswick High Rd; photograph Tim Cole

Digital advertisers quick to display their tributes

Digital advertisers were among the first and most noticeable to pay tribute to the Queen when her death was announced at 6.30pm on Thursday 8 September. JC Decaux and Clear Channel, the main owners of digital advertising space on the high street, very quickly had their tribute to the Queen on bus stops and billboards and the advertising display at Piccaddilly Circus was quickly switched to a respectful black and white tribute to Her Majesty.

JC Decaux’s social media were perhaps a bit too quick off the mark, sharing a picture of the Queen with ‘1926 – 2021’ written beneath. I noticed it on social media but did not realise it revealed the advertising industry had a long established plan for what to do when the Queen died, as did broadcasters, but had just not updated the graphic since last year. They noticed their mistake very quickly and changed it.

Praise, admiration and affection for the Queen … from politicians

As the news broke on Thursday night there was a steady flow of tributes being shared on social media.

Ruth Cadbury MP said:

“At this saddest of times, I send the thoughts, prayers and condolences of my family and my constituents to the Royal Family.

“The Queen was first and foremost devoted to her family; her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and wider family. For over 70 years the Queen has been a constant in all our lives; a beacon of dedication and stability. She served graciously and tirelessly as our monarch and personified just what public service should be.”

Leader of Hounslow Council, Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, said:

“Our late Sovereign, Queen Elizabeth the Second was the longest serving Monarch in this country’s history.  She visited the Borough on several occasions during her reign and will be remembered with affection and gratitude by residents, as she will be by people across the country and indeed the globe.”

“The Queen’s devotion to public service was truly exemplary. Over a period in history that saw many momentous changes she provided a consistency that was invaluable to all living in our country. We owe her a tremendous debt of gratitude.”

Speaking for Chiswick’s Conservative councilors, Cllr Ron Mushiso told The Chiswick Calendar:

“We are deeply saddened at the passing of Her Majesty the Queen. Our thoughts and prayers are with her immedite family and with the community as she was Queen to us all.”

Cllr John Todd added: “I was a great fan of her commitment.”

Cllr Gabriella Giles Tweeted: “Thank you for your service and leadership.”

Nick Rogers, Conservative Assembly Member for South West London wrote:

“We have lost a titanic figure. I can barely conceive of our nation without Queen Elizabeth II. Her Majesty inspired millions by her dignity, her sense of duty and her patriotism.”

Cllr Gary Malcolm, councillor for Southfield, Leader of the Ealing Liberal Democrats and Leader of the Opposition on Ealing Council commented:

“I am sure that we all feel shocked at the news of The Queen’s death. She was a rock for the country and the Commonwealth regardless of who ran the country. The @EalingLD pass on our condolences, and from the residents of Ealing, to the Royal Family. She will be sorely missed.”

Hounslow Labour Party Tweeted:

“Our condolences, thoughts and prayers to the Royal Family. As we enter a period of mourning, we will be suspending all campaigning activity immediately.”

Image above: Queen Elizabeth II; photograph Adam Gasson, Commonwealth Secretariat
At the Commonwealth Heads of Government lunch hosted by Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma at the Commonwealth Secretariat, Marlborough House, London, UK. 6 June 2012.

… from businesses and organisations

Among those businesses and organisations in Chiswick and west London to give their shocked reaction on Thursday night:

Chiswick School – “Our @ChiswickSchool community is deeply saddened by the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.”

John D Wood – “Her Majesty the Queen’s passing is a great loss to the world. She will be missed by so many.”

West London College – “We are all deeply saddened to learn of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Our thoughts are with the royal family at this time.”

Chiswick Cinema – “Throughout her long life and historic reign, the Queen became one of the greatest icons of the modern age, inspiring generations of families and uniting the country during times of trouble or celebration. Her unique appeal was truly global.”

Chiswick House – “The staff, trustees and volunteers at Chiswick House & Gardens are saddened to hear of the passing of Her Majesty the Queen. Our thoughts are with the Royal Family at this time.”

The Polish Centre hung flags at half mast.

… from individuals

Journalist Peter Oborne, whose wife Martine is the vicar of St Michael’s Church Elwood Rd, described the Queen as ‘quiet force for national stability.’

Writing in Middle East Eye he says:

‘I believe the greatest moment of her magnificent reign was her remarkable act of reconciliation when in May 2011 she made the first British state visit to Ireland since its independence, dressed in bright republican green. She visited Croke Park, where British forces had massacred 14 Irishmen in 1920.

‘It was a visit that could so easily have gone terribly wrong. But Queen Elizabeth II was pitch perfect, winning the hearts of millions of Irish men and women who had every reason to hate the British state.’

He describes the news of her death as sending a ‘shattering psychic blow across the United Kingdom.’

Torin Douglas MBE, former BBC correspondent and Director of the Chiswick Book Festival, remembered meeting the Queen when she awarded him his MBE.

“It was a great honour to receive my MBE from the Queen” he told The Chiswick Calendar – “an increasingly rare thing to happen in recent years. She was very warm, friendly, smiley.”

Chiswick based author and TV presenter Richard Osman just commented: “What a sad, sad day.”

Belmont School had just received a card from the Queen

Belmont School shared news about receiving a card from the Queen less than two hours before the news of her death was announced.

“Back in June the children and staff in The Hive celebrated The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee by colouring pictures of the queen. We sent them off to Buckingham Palace and today we received a card from Buckingham Palace and The Queen!

Images above: Tweet by Belmont School; Princess Elizabeth during World War II

RMT calls off next week’s rail strikes

The RMT announced immediately the news broke that they would call off next week’s rail strikes. Mick Lynch said:

“RMT joins the whole nation in paying its respects to Queen Elizabeth.

“The planned railway strike action on 15 and 17 September is suspended.

“We express our deepest condolences to her family, friends and the country.”

Churches open books of condolence

Nicola Moy, vicar of Christ Church, Turnham Green emailed The Chiswick Calendar to say:

“Joining a nation in gratitude for a life well lived and in prayer this evening.

“HRH Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has been an inspiration to us all. Along with churches around the country we will be opening Christ Church Turnham Green in the coming days for those who wish to sign our book of condolences or mark the occasion in another way. We will begin by being open from 8am – 5pm tomorrow [Friday 9 September].

“May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

“Please look at our website: www.christchurchw4.com for details of services.”

Fr Simon Brandes, who is currently away on holiday, told us he would be put something on St Nicholas Church website “ASAP telling people home we are going to remember and pray for the late queen.”

St Michael & All Angels Church will also have condolence books for people to sign and will be inviting people into the church to light a candle.

LB Hounslow also announced that there would be a book of condolence at Chiswick Library and another at Chiswick Town Hall for people to sign.

Image above: Mural being painted in Hounslow

New mural of the Queen in Hounslow

Much has been written over the past few days about the Queen’s role in keeping the Commonwealth together and promoting harmony amongst nations. This photograph was shared on social media on Monday of a mural of the Queen being painted in Hounslow.

‘What’s common between an Indian, Sri Lankan, Pakistani and Bangladeshi. They are all painting the first community mural in #Hounslow in honour of #HerMajesty. #RaceRelations have come a long way here! RiP Your Majesty’ Tweeted @ksehmi5.

Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar

See also: Chiswick’s new sculpture sparkles in the rain as Rowan Williams declares it “definitively there”

See also: Interview with Conrad Shawcross, designer of Chiswick’s new sculpture Enwrought Light

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