Horley Town Mayor pays tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll (1926 - 2022): Sunday Service 18 September 2022, 5.00 pm

Statement from Horley Town Council

Following the announcement of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll (on 8 September 2022) Horley Town Mayor, Cllr Samantha Marshall in paying tribute said:

“I and my Council colleagues are deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday 8 September. 

Her Majesty was a great inspiration, born as the daughter of a second son and not expected to be Queen, however she embraced the role and her service has been exemplary across more than 70 years. Her loss will be felt deeply across the world and she will be greatly missed.

The thoughts of this Council and our Horley community are with His Majesty The King, the Royal Family and to all those who grieve Her Majesty The Queen’s passing. 

I will be sending a letter of condolence to His Majesty The King on behalf of all those who live and work in Horley and, as a mark of respect, the Union Flag at the Memorial Gardens is being flown at half mast until the day after the Royal Funeral and the Town Council will hold a one-minute silence at its next Council meeting”.

Her Majesty The Queen visited the Reigate & Banstead borough on a number of occasions, most recently to the reopening of the modernised East Surrey College, Redhill, in 2011 with His Royal Highness Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh.

A national online book of condolence is available on the British Monarchy website at www.royal.uk to allow the public to pay tribute.

Message from the Royal British Legion, Horley Branch:  The Horley Branch of the RBL will be holding a short Service to commemorate the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll and to rejoice in the accession of King Charles lll to the throne.  The Service will be held at the War Memorial starting at 5pm on Sunday 18th September.  All members of the public are welcome to join in.

Local Books of Condolence

Local books of condolence will be opened at:

• Town Hall (Mayor’s Parlour) in Reigate
• The Harlequin Theatre in Redhill
• Banstead Community Centre
• Horley Community Centre

Opening hours of the books in Town Hall and The Harlequin Theatre are:

• Saturday 10 September, 9am to 6pm
• Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm (from Monday 12 September)

Opening hours of the books in Banstead and Horley Community Centres are:

• Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm (from Monday 12 September)

Please be aware that security checks may be in operation. The nearest parking for the Town Hall is Bancroft Road multi-storey car park. On-site parking is available for blue badge holders only. You can also deliver your written tribute by hand to a special post box at the Town Hall for inclusion into the loose-leaf books.

Donations and flowers

If you wish to lay flowers, designated areas for floral tributes are at the flag poles at:

• Town Hall Reigate’s ceremonial entrance
• Memorial Park, Redhill
• Lady Neville Recreation Ground, Banstead 
• Horley Recreation Ground

Please remember to remove all packaging first, including plastic wrapping. This is because, at the appropriate time, flowers will be taken for composting.

If you would prefer to make a donation to charity in remebrance, rather than laying flowers, mementoes or tributes, please consider donating to either a cause closely identified with Her Majesty The Queen or a charity of your own choice in Her Majesty's name. Details of these can be found on the charities and patronages page of the Royal Family website.

Mourning guidance

Guidance for the period of national mourning can be found at the following links:

• Mourning and Condolence arrangements at the Royal Residences
• Guidance for the Period of National Mourning - GOV.UK

Flags

As a mark of respect, the Union Flag at the Town Hall is being flown at half-mast during the period of national mourning.

The Council will also hold a one-minute silence at its next Council meeting in remembrance.

At 10.30am on the day of the national proclamation, the Town Hall’s Union Flag was raised to full mast for the proclamation of the King, in line with national protocol. It remained at full mast until 1pm the following day (Sunday 11 September) when all Union Flags nationally were returned to half-mast.

Flag flying guidance following the death of Her Majesty The Queen can be found here Flag flying guidance following the death of Her Majesty The Queen - GOV.UK.

Letters to The King sending condolences should be sent to:

FAO The King's Private Secretary,
Buckingham Palace,
London,
SW1A 1AA

LOCAL PROCLAMATION CEREMONY IN HORLEY

Horley Town Council had the privilege to host a Local Proclamation in Horley in recognition of the formal accession to the throne of His Majesty King Charles III.  At the ceremony, Town Mayor, Cllr Samantha Marshall delivered the Proclamation reading and she was accompanied by deputy Town Mayor, Cllr Hannah Avery.  Samantha gave a poignant speech combined with heartfelt emotion on the sad passing of Queen Elizabeth ll who had devoted her life to the nation as British Monarch in such an exemplary and inspiring way.  Reverend Canon Les Wells further gave a meaningful address with prayers and representatives of the Horley Branch of the Royal British Legion were also present.  The ornamental gardens, recently renamed ‘The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Gardens’ at Horley Recreation Ground had reached high attendance, creating an air of utmost reverence by everyone present.  The Town Council was humbled to see such a large turn-out of people of all generations and walks of life congregating together in the evening sunshine.  We were delighted to be so well supported by many residents and community representatives together with the Reigate & Banstead Mayor and Mayoress, county and borough members, local scout groups and police officers.  This is a time in history that will always remain close in the hearts of the Horley community.

Further information is available on the following websites and links:

Surrey County Council

Reigate & Banstead Borough Council 

Reigate Mayor - local Proclamation of new Sovereign

ENDS

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