By Cllr Clive Jones
The last week has been quite incredible. Unprecedented really – and lots has been recounted and written about her Majesty and her reign, here in the United Kingdom and overseas.
Queen Elizabeth II, was a towering global personality and an outstanding leader.
She dedicated her life to making her nation, the Commonwealth and the entire world a better place.
The Queen reminded us of important underrated qualities.
Duty, dedication, stability, an aim for unity, dignity, calm, unfaltering and a lengthy 70 years of a lifetime of service.
Many residents from Wokingham will have attended the lying in State in Westminster Hall and queued for many hours to pay their respects to Her Majesty.
Others will have lined the route for the funeral at Westminster Abbey.
I know of neighbours who went to Windsor to stand along the Long walk as the Queen came home to her final resting place within the castle.
There was a graceful dignity about all the proceedings which will have touched many who attended these events and watched them on television.
It’s also touching that so many heads of state came to London to pay their respects.
This shows that Her Majesty was admired widely and respected internationally.
I thought it was lovely that prominence was given during the funeral to NHS staff and holders of the Victoria and George crosses and the many staff who had worked for the Queen.
Whilst we mourn the queen, we should remember that her family have lost a mother, grandmother and great grandmother, the grief on the faces of the Royal family was very clear for all to see.
I thought King Charles’ card, which said “In loving and devoted memory”, was very heartfelt.
Many will be remembering the times that they met the Queen.
She once famously said, “life is full of first meetings and final goodbyes”.
Everyone who met her will remember their meeting with her and we’ll certainly all remember our final goodbye to her Majesty.
Queen Elizabeth II made history, she was history, and she will never be forgotten.
Cllr Clive Jones is the leader of Wokingham Borough Council and Lib Dem member for Hawkedon ward
