">
">
">
">
Queen Mother's Death Within minutes of the sad news of the death of H M Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother being announced on BBC TV, a well-planned contingency plan under the overall code-name of Tay Bridge, swung into action.I, as the Deputy of Dover Castle was en route back to the UK from a holiday in France. My mobile began to go into meltdown as meetings were hastily convened with representatives of Clarence House, Dover District Council, English Heritage and the Registrar of the Cinque Ports, Mr Ian Gill.At the Lord Warden's official residence, Walmer Castle, Books of Condolence were opened the following day with well over 1,500 people signing and leaving messages in the first few hours. Many also laid flowers in the adjacent Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother's Garden.A similar Book of Condolence was also opened at St Mary's in Castro Church in Dover Castle for those who attended the morning service, at which special mention was made of the part the Lord Warden had played in maintaining the historic role. On the Monday similar Books of Condolence were opened in all the Cinque Ports towns. Meanwhile, at Dover Castle, a 41-gun salute was fired by 100 Royal Artillery ( V). I carried out the inspection and the event was watched by a number of civic dignitaries and the crowds who had heard about it through the media. The last time a similar event was staged at the Castle was on the death of King George V1 in February, 1952, although a lesser salute was fired in 1979 when the Queen Mother was installed as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. On Sunday 7th April, I attended a service of thanksgiving for the life of the Queen Mother in Canterbury Cathedral under the direction of the Lord Lieutenant and Dean of Canterbury Cathedral.The Confederation of the Cinque Ports was well represented at the actual funeral in London of the Queen Mother. On the military front, my wife and I attended whilst the Pipes and Drums of the 2nd Bn. The Royal Gurkha Rifles from Sir John Moore Barracks at Shorncliffe and the Pipes and Drums of the 1st Bn The Royal Irish Regiment based at Howe Barracks, Canterbury, both took part in the cortege itself. Among the civilian representatives from the Cinque Ports was the Registrar, Mr Ian Gill. Now follows the difficult task of whom to appoint as the new Lord Warden. It will be hard for those at Downing Street who have to choose to come up with a name equally as illustrious as H M Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother or recent predecessors such as Sir Winston Churchill and Sir Robert Menzies. In fact, it could be several months yet before the outcome is known.President of the Friends of Dover Castle. Brigadier David Santa-Olalla. |
">
">
">
">
">
">
">
">
">
">
">
">
">
">
">
">
The Magazine |
Issue 33 |
2002 |
