Councillors pay tribute to HM The Queen

Great Yarmouth Borough Council held an extraordinary meeting of full council to enable councillors to formally pay their respects to Her Majesty, and show their support for King Charles III.

The meeting was opened with a prayer from Revd Canon Simon Ward followed by a minute's silence for the Queen. 

The messages of tribute were led by Mayor of Great Yarmouth Cllr Graham Plant who said: "Today we gather as a Borough, as a Council, and as representatives of our communities to give grateful thanks for the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

"Her gifts to us of duty and service have been unparalleled - a strong, dependable, and guiding light over more than 70 years. Called to the throne at such a young age, Her Majesty never wavered in giving of herself for the good of the country and the Commonwealth.

"Our borough has proud links with the Royal family, with the Lions of England forever fused with our own proud heritage in our borough arms.

"We remember fondly Her Majesty's visit to Great Yarmouth in 1985 when she came to this very Town Hall, received by a choir of young voices in our Assembly Room and greeting well wishers from the balcony.

"One of our younger citizens was so enamoured after talking to the Queen that she even tried to get into the Royal car when it came time for the Royal party to depart - she was stopped only by an eagle-eyed Prince Philip.

"It was my sombre privilege to read the Proclamation of his accession on behalf of the Borough. Tonight we, as a Council, send the King our full throated and whole hearted support and allegiance."

Leader of the council Cllr Carl Smith paid tribute to the Queen's long service and talked about his experiences of meeting the Queen.

"I was fortunate enough to meet the Queen when she visited Great Yarmouth in 1985 in the market place, and my young son presented her with a bunch of flowers. We also met attending a Royal garden party in 2017 at Buckingham Palace with my wife Jackie. Two events I will never forget."

Labour group leader Cllr Trevor Wainwright said: "During her reign the Queen has been the head of our country for us all, and somebody who bought together the whole country at times of fear, discord and uncertainty. 

"We remember the Queen's appeal at the start of the Coronavirus outbreak that 'In the years that come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge. And those who come after us will say, the Britons of this generation were as strong as any: that the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet good humoured resolve and of fellow feeling, still characterize this country. The pride on who we are is not part of our past. It defies our present and future.  

"I'm sure that these remarks touched us all and that whatever our views are on the Monarchy are, that people will respect the way that the Queen conducted herself throughout her 70 year reign, and her dedication to public service."

Other councillors remembered their own experiences of meeting the Queen, and her impact on their lives.

• A video of the councillors' tributes to the Queen is available on our YouTube channel
• There will be civil service of thanksgiving and remembrance for the reign of Queen Elizabeth II at Great Yarmouth Minister at 6pm on Sunday. The service is open to the public and tickets are not required. Attendees are asked to wear clothing in keeping with the national period of mourning.