The union flag is flying at half mast in Nuneaton

The Union Flag is now flying at half-mast on Nuneaton Town Hall, and will do so until 1400 hours on Sunday .

Press Release from Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council on the Death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

It was with great sadness that yesterday, Friday 8 September 2022, the Borough Council was informed of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.  

The sorrowful news was given by the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire, Sir Timothy Cox, to all Borough, Town and Parish councils in Warwickshire.

Accordingly, the Borough Council has today implemented Operation London Bridge. This is the plan for everything that needs to be completed by the Borough Council from the announcement of Her Majesty’s passing to the day of the State Funeral.

A Proclamation will be read tomorrow in the Capital Cities (Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast) by Heralds at 1500 hours and the Proclamation will be read on Sunday at Shire Hall by the High Sheriff confirming that Prince Charles Phillip Arthur George is now His Majesty King Charles III.

The Union Flag is now flying at half-mast on Nuneaton Town Hall, and will do so until 1400 hours on Sunday when the proclamation will be read from the Town Hall steps. The Union flag will remain at full mast until the following day when it will once again be lowered to half-mast and will remain so until after the funeral of her late majesty.

The Town Hall will be closed for business on the national day of mourning when that is announced. There may be other days that protocol demands the Town Hall be closed, that we will be made aware of at a later date and we will ensure that any such information will be issued to our residents as soon as possible in order to ensure minimum disruption to services.

Leader of the Council, Councillor Kris Wilson, said:

“Whilst we all knew that this moment would eventually come, it still does not make this news any easier. HM Queen Elizabeth II – the Grandmother of the Nation – has sadly passed away. Her loyalty and service to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth has no parallel, and she performed her duties literally right up to the end. Many residents across our Borough, and across the world, are in shock and mourning as we see the end of the great modern Elizabethan Age.

“But, behind all of this, there is still a grieving family. Whist duties will no doubt continue, tonight people are mourning the loss of a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. On a human level, we must all recognise this too and my thoughts and best wishes go out to the Royal Family at this time.”

To express the condolences of the residents of Nuneaton and Bedworth, and mark the life of an extraordinary woman, a Special Council will be held at 6pm on Friday 9 September 2022 where a resolution will be passed to express the Council’s sorrow at the calamity which has befallen the Nation and the Commonwealth through the passing of The Queen and extending to His Majesty King Charles III, the Duke of Cambridge and members of The Royal Family the heartfelt sympathy of the Council at their loss. Residents are welcome to attend or watch online.

As a mark of respect, front line staff will wear black ties or black armbands when on duty, Councillors will wear black ties or black rosettes when on official Council business. The Mayor and his secretary are going through the appointments list and any that we feel may impinge on the solemnity of these next 10 days will be postponed until after the funeral.

These are unprecedented days, we will do our best to deliver “business as usual” but people should be aware that we have to follow protocols and guidelines from Buckingham Palace, St James Palace and Downing Street.

The Council would ask that all those who wish to lay floral tributes either take them to the George Eliot Gardens where a dedicated site for floral tributes or expressions of grief has been identified and signposted, or in Bedworth to the grassed area by the Frank Parsons Memorial, in the town centre.