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09
Sept 2022
Last Updated: 09/09/2022
LIVE: A day of mourning and respect for the Queen in the Harrogate district
Churches opened their doors and put out books of condolence; flags across the Harrogate district were lowered to half mast and flowers laid as the district began to mourn the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Read our blog as we followed the days events as they unfolded.
Churches have opened their doors and put out books of condolence; flags across the Harrogate district were lowered to half mast and flowers laid as the district begins to mourn the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The 96-year-old Queen, who was the country's longest-serving monarch, died yesterday at Balmoral.
This blog has followed the days events as they unfolded across the district:
4.00pm: Mourners lay flowers by Harrogate's War Memorial
Around ten bouquets have been laid by mourners by the War Memorial in Harrogate.
3.15pm: Historic Harrogate hotel remembers Queen's visit
DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel & Spa has posted a photo from the time Princess Elizabeth visited the hotel, four years before she became Queen.
Elizabeth and her husband Philip visited The Majestic for a banquet in 1949 on the same day they visited the Great Yorkshire Show.
They couple was greeted at the hotel by Mayor Mary Fisher. Following the event, the Princess and Duke made a balcony appearance, waving to the crowds on the Majestic grounds
2.30pm: Stonefall Cemetery tours cancelled
Commonwealth War Graves Commission has cancelled free Stonefall Cemetery tours that were set to take place tomorrow as well as on September 15, 17 and 18.
Around 200 people were booked on tours to learn about the men and women of the Commonwealth forces who are buried there.
However, as a mark of respect for Her Majesty, the events have been cancelled.
1.45pm: Businesses pay unique tributes to Queen
Harrogate district businesses are paying their unique tributes to Elizabeth II.
Everyman cinema on Station Parade has replaced its usual notices that tell cinemagoers what films it is showing with a single somber quote. It says:
"Every thank you will never be enough 1926 - 2022"
The Harrogate Tea Rooms in Westminster Arcade has baked some special cupcakes inspired by the former monarch.
https://twitter.com/HarrogateTeaRms/status/1568218656818987010?s=20&t=noSrMM1VvqgwIEwubizUIQ
1.00pm: Boroughbridge
St James church in Boroughbridge has joined other Anglican churches in the district in setting up a book of condolence for mourners to sign.
12.30pm: Church bells ring out for the Queen
The Stray Ferret had reporters at St Peter's Church in Harrogate, St John's Church in Knaresborough and Ripon Cathedral from 12pm.
Most of the country's 16,000 churches haven't rang bells muffled since the death of the Queen's father in 1952.
Watch videos below of the bells ringing below:
12.10pm: Earl of Harewood issues personal tribute
The Earl of Harewood David Lascelles has issued a personal statement that remembers his relative Elizabeth II.
His father, the late George Lascelles, was the Queen's first cousin.
The Earl's tribute includes an anecdote of when the Queen visited Harewood in 2002 and watched Emmerdale being filmed.
The statement also highlight's the Queen's appreciation of Yorkshire's different faiths and communities.
Mr Lascelles said:
"Queen Elizabeth was my first cousin once removed, Cousin Lilibet, the name she was called by all her family. Though we were related, I only really met her on formal occasions during my adult life, so have less personal memories of this remarkable woman. But I do remember the last time she was at Harewood, in July 2002 for her Golden Jubilee.
"It was a gloriously sunny day and the first stop was at the long-running TV soap opera Emmerdale, the village set for which is on the southern edge of Harewood Estate, where my wife Diane and I greeted her. The Queen met and shook hands with the cast and crew and watched the Post Office being set on fire, a stunt staged in her honour and not part of their regular storyline.
"The main event of the day was in front of Harewood House, where, accompanied by my father and step-mother, an hour long pageant was staged for her and for Prince Philip and an enthusiastic crowd. This was Yorkshire at it most culturally diverse: on a smaller scale, but not unlike the parades along the Mall for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022, still fresh in everyone’s memory.
"There was music from many different traditions and performers representing all Yorkshire’s different communities. There were spectacular costumes from Leeds’ West Indian Carnival, brass bands from the mining villages of South Yorkshire, Indian dancers from Bradford, operatic arias from Lesley Garrett and guest appearances from Mel B, Brian Close and Terry Venables (who had just been appointed as Leeds United’s new manager) on the steps of Harewood House.
"The Queen’s enjoyment was clear for all to see. These were the rich, mixed, varied, sometimes contradictory cultures of 21st century Britain, a Britain very different from the country she knew when she came to the throne in 1953 but one with which she continued to identify and one which she continued to represent with grace and with great dignity.
"The length of her reign and the many changes she witnessed during those years are unprecedented in our history. Her death is truly the end of an era, the end of the Second Elizabethan Age."
11.45am: Harrogate's Muslim community pays its respects
Whilst the district's Anglican churches have led the tributes to Elizabeth II, Harrogate's Muslim community has also paid its own respects.
Harrogate Islamic Association said:
https://twitter.com/HarrogateIA/status/1568091470195822593?s=20&t=1q8wHDA2aKKWrrFls5vPMA
11.30am: Harrogate Town game called off
Harrogate Town's game against Carlisle United tomorrow has been called off. It was due to kick off at 3pm at the EnviroVent Stadium but the English Football League has decided to postpone all fixtures as a mark of respect to Elizabeth II.
Leeds United's game against Nottingham Forest on Monday night has also been postponed by the Premier League.
https://twitter.com/HarrogateTown/status/1568186088388182018?s=20&t=6xvP0AyGuDITrIx-Qf_GLg
11.00am: Harry's tours to focus on the Queen
Tour guide Harry Satloka will continue with his free Harrogate walking tours today with a special focus on Harrogate's connection with Elizabeth II.
He said he will be wearing black as a mark of respect until after the funeral.
10.30am: St Peter's Church plans special services
St Peter's Church on Cambridge Road will be holding special services to remember the former Queen over the weekend.
The church's bells will ring today from 12pm for one hour.
Vicar Alan Garrow said:
"The church will be open as a focal point for people to express their grief. For flowers we recommend people leave them at the garden of remembrance, which is on the Cambridge Street side of St Peter’s.
"We have eight bell ringers and they are going to ring all of the bells for the full one hour from 12pm."
10.15am: Flags at half-mast in Knaresborough
The Union Flag is flying at half-mast outside Knaresborough House.
The town has proud links to the Royal family dating back centuries.
Knaresborough Castle is still owned by the Duchy of Lancaster Estate (although currently leased to Harrogate Borough Council).
It's a former Royal summer residence and was also the administrative centre for the Forest of Knaresborough, an administrative area and royal hunting ground that covered 45 square miles.
The Mayor of Knaresborough Kathryn Davies said:
"For a lot of people in Knaresborough Queen Elizabeth II will be the only monarch they have known. The loss of her calm and constant presence in their lives will be felt keenly. They are not alone in their grief. As well as the rest of the United Kingdom, many across the world will also miss her greatly.
"When the news of her death was announced, I was with a party of Americans, Canadians, New Zealanders and Australians. Without exception they had been following her progress in the last few days and were immediate in their expressions of condolence and their own sense of loss.
"She was a great monarch who steered us through some exceptional times in the 20th and early 21st centuries. Good luck and best wishes to our new King Charles II. God save the King."
10.00am: Betty's closed until 11am
Betty's Cafe Tea Rooms on Parliament Street is closed until 11am. A notice has been posted on the window that includes its own tribute to the former Queen.
9.30am: Yorkshire Agricultural Society pays tribute
Yorkshire Agricultural Society, the organisation that runs the Great Yorkshire Show, has issued its own tribute to Elizabeth II. She had long standing links to the show and visited four times as Queen (1949, 1957, 1977 and 2008).
The statement said:
"We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Her Majesty The Queen and send our sincere condolences to the Royal Family at this sad time.
"The Royal Family and Her Majesty The Queen have been an integral part of the Society’s heritage since it first formed in 1837.
"The Queen was the first female Patron of the Society and remained so for 45 years from 1952 to 1997. TRH Prince of Wales has been the Society’s Patron since 1998.
"Her Majesty first visited the Great Yorkshire Show in 1949, before becoming Queen, and went on to visit a number of times over the years before a final visit in 2008 with The Duke of Edinburgh. During the visit, The Queen unveiled a plaque to mark the start of the construction of Fodder and the adjoining Yorkshire Agricultural Society offices.
"The Society is honoured to have had the privilege of The Queen supporting the work it does for agriculture as both our Patron and as our guest."
9am: RHS Harlow Carr remaining open today
The Royal Horticultural Society will be opening RHS Harlow Carr today but it will close on the day of the funeral, which has not yet been announced, as a mark of respect.
The RHS said in a statement:
"Her Majesty became Patron of the Society on accession to the throne in 1952. From an early age, The Queen regularly accompanied her parents to RHS Chelsea Flower Show, visiting the show more than 50 times during her reign, and always took great pleasure in touring the gardens and plant displays and speaking with exhibitors.
"We were extremely grateful and proud to have Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as our Patron and we are immensely saddened by yesterday's news."
8.45am: Bilton church opens book of condolence
St John's Church on Bilton Lane is open until 5pm for people to pray and give thanks for the life of the former Queen. There will be candles to light and a book of condolence to sign.
8.25am: Pateley Bridge
We've been in Pateley Bridge this morning to see how the town has responded to the death of the Queen. Below is a picture of St Cuthbert Church with the St George's flag flying at half-mast.
The police station and council offices:
8.10am: Ripon pays its respects
Reporter Tim Flanagan is in Ripon this morning where the Union Flag is flying at half mast over Ripon Town Hall.
The building is still decked in the banners put in place to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee year. Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the historic building in May 2004 when the city celebrated the 400th anniversary of the granting by James I of its Royal Charter.
Some 19 years earlier in April 1985, The Queen was at Ripon Cathedral for the Royal Maundy Service.
8am: Harrogate district MPs issue statements
Our three Conservative MPs, Andrew Jones, Julian Smith and Nigel Adams have all issued statements following the death of the Queen.
https://twitter.com/AJonesMP/status/1567965837814026240?s=20&t=_Mn4GnMsz-pZ476CfXHbpg
https://twitter.com/JulianSmithUK/status/1567985133248196608?s=20&t=_Mn4GnMsz-pZ476CfXHbpg
https://twitter.com/nadams/status/1567932407764099072?s=20&t=_Mn4GnMsz-pZ476CfXHbpg
Church Bells will toll
Church bells across the district will toll at noon today to mark the Queen's death. The bells will be muffled and toll for one hour.
The Church of England has sent out guidance to parish churches, chapels and cathedrals encouraging them to toll their bells or open for prayer or special services.
The North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe has issued a statement:
“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has been the figurehead of our nation for over 70 years, a loyal servant who has provided stability and support to so many for so long. It is impossible to imagine life without her, and I know many will find the fact we now have to face that reality very difficult.
“Our emergency services will play a key role in the coming days in supporting our communities, and their commemorations and celebrations of Her Majesty’s life.
“My thoughts today are particularly with the Royal Family who have not just lost a leader but a mother, grandmother and great grandmother. No matter who you are or when it happens, the death of a loved one is incredibly hard, and my respects and condolences go to them.”
The Royal Hall this morning with the flag lowered at half mast
Read More:
- Lord Lieutenant pays tribute to the Queen from North Yorkshire
- Mayor leads Harrogate tributes to Queen’s ‘constant source of courage’
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