Devon's civic leaders pay tribute to The Queen
Devon’s civic leaders have paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II following her death aged 96.
Devon’s lord lieutenant David Fursdon, the Queen’s representative in the county, said: “It is with great sadness that we have heard of the death of Her Majesty, The Queen.
“This brings to an end the incredible reign of someone who will surely go down in history as one of our greatest monarchs.
“Very many of us have known no one else on the throne, throughout that long period. She has been a rock standing steadfast among the swirling currents of our times, and she will be very sorely missed.
“We know that as a young princess, it was in Devon at the Britannia Royal Naval College that she met the man who was to become her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. So she had a special fondness for the county from that time onwards.
Mr Fursdon added: “She visited Exeter, Plymouth and Torbay, and these were regular visits carried out throughout her reign. But of course she came to Devon in all her Jubilee tours on the Silver Jubilee the Golden Jubilee and the Diamond Jubilee.
“Overall then, she probably visited us every three or four years throughout her long reign.
The lord lieutenant concluded: “She declared after the death of her father that her whole life, whether it be short or long, would be devoted to the service of us all.
“She certainly carried out that promise, and we remember her today with love and thanks for all that she has done for us.”
Flags will now be flown at half-mast on all public buildings until 8am on the day following the Queen’s State Funeral
The Bishop of Exeter, the Rt Rev’d Robert Atwell, said “The death of the Queen represents a huge watershed in the life of our nation.
“Like the majority of the population, I cannot remember a time when Queen Elizabeth was not on the throne. She combined a strong sense of duty with a deep Christian faith.
“She had an extraordinary ability to generate goodwill by celebrating the work of ordinary people and charities, and by encouraging service to others.
“She was a very private person who was public property, someone whom the world over was held in great affection and esteem. This nation – and the church of which she was head – owe her an enormous debt of gratitude.
“May she rest in peace and rise in glory.”
On behalf the people of Devon the chairman of Devon County Council, Councillor Ian Hall, said he sends “our deepest sympathies to the royal family,” following the news.
He added: “As our monarch, she has dedicated her life to her country in all that she has done, and with unwavering support to all our armed forces.
“With commitment and energy and even into our later years and as a mother, grandmother, wife and matriarch, she has shown no less a commitment to her family.
“Her family and the country will miss her greatly.
By Ollie Heptinstall, local democracy reporter
