An opportunity to remember Queen Elizabeth II is to take place in the Old Market Square this Sunday (September 18th) from 7pm, incorporating the national Moment of Reflection.
The ‘Remembering Her Majesty’ event has been organised by Nottingham City Council to give local people an opportunity to gather and reflect on the life of The Queen, following her death after an unprecedented 70-year reign.
It will be a multi-faith event involving contributions from the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, the Rt Rev Paul Williams, local Muslim leader Dr Musharraf Hussain, the Catholic Bishop of Nottingham, the Rt Rev Patrick McKinney and Senior Pastor at God’s Vineyard, Dr Ezekiel Alawale. Other contributors include councillors, members of the local community and the City Council’s Chief Executive.
‘Remembering Her Majesty’ will start at 7pm with music from the Hucknall and Linby Mining Community Brass Band and will conclude with a minute’s silence being observed for the national Moment of Reflection at 8pm.
Queen Elizabeth visited Nottingham at least ten times, including the Coronation year (1953) and three Jubilees (Silver in 1977, Gold in 2002 and Diamond in 2012). She opened The Queen’s Medical Centre and the University of Nottingham’s Jubilee campus, visited famous Nottingham industries of bicycle and lace manufacturing, met local cricket and skating legends, Derek Randal and Torvill and Dean, and inspected Nottinghamshire-based military regiments.
The Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Cllr Wendy Smith, said: “The Queen will always have a special place in the hearts of a great many local people, as has been clearly demonstrated whenever she visited Nottingham over her seven decade reign and the thousands who are still queueing up to sign the Book of Condolence.
“We invite anyone who wishes to gather to remember her and to celebrate her extraordinary life and service to join us in the Old Market Square on Sunday evening, where so many Royal visits have taken place over the years.”
Leader of the City Council, Cllr David Mellen, said: “We felt that it was appropriate to give Nottingham residents the opportunity to come together and remember Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ahead of her funeral on Monday.
“She is held in deep affection here in Nottingham and we hope this will provide a fitting tribute and chance to reflect on her devotion, dedication and dignity in serving the British people.”
The event will be livestreamed on the Council’s Youtube channel here