The Royal motorcade in Albion Way, Horsham, in 1978
Photo credit: Sussex Express

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In March, 1978 the Queen visited Horsham to officially open the new Queen Elizabeth 2nd Silver Jubilee School on Comptons Lane.

Banners and Pennants were erected along the route leading up to the school where the procession was lined with crowds and children waving flags.

At the time, her Majesty was accompanied by Lavinia, Duchess of Norfolk, who was the first woman Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex from 1975.

If you are one of the school pupils pictured, or recognise someone, please let us know by email:
news@susyradio.com

If you have news for Sussex and Surrey, contact us on news@susyradio.com

Crawley Town Hall Proclamation
Photo credit: Sussex Express.

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Proclamation statements have been held across the region including Crawley and Tandridge where crowds gathered, as news of Charles officially becoming King is spread to the nation.

Charles III was formally proclaimed king at a historic ceremony at St James’s Palace on Saturday morning.

Flags which were lowered in mourning for the late Queen are flying at full mast after the Accession Council, which was televised for the first time.

A period of national mourning is now in place and will last until the end of the day of the Queen’s state funeral on Monday, 19 September.

Listen to the reading of the Proclamation across Surrey

If you have news for Sussex and Surrey, contact us on news@susyradio.com

Tributes have been made to Her Majesty the Queen following the announcement of her death on Thursday.  Books of condolence have been opened at local buildings including the Town Halls in Reigate and Crawley, and community centres in Horley and Banstead.

Photo above shows a Book of Condolence messages post box situated outside Reigate Town Hall for people to leave messages outside of the Town Hall’s opening times.

St Matthew’s Church in Redhill was among those which tolled its bells at midday on Friday and opened for prayer for members of the local community to give thanks to the Queen for her long years of service to our nation.

Her Majesty paid a number of visits to the local area over the years, most recently in 2011 with the Duke of Edinburgh to the reopening of the modernised East Surrey College in Redhill.  The Queen visited Crawley six times during her reign.

In 2006 she came to Queens Square, Thomas Bennett Community College, Varian Medical Systems and the Carey House sheltered housing scheme in West Green.  Her first visit to the town was in 1950 when, as Princess Elizabeth, she opened Manor Royal, the main road through Crawley’s industrial estate.  Shortly after, in 1958, Her Majesty the Queen officially opened Gatwick Airport.

 

Photo above courtesy Crawley Borough Council.  The Queen visiting Three Bridges in 1958.

Photo above courtesy Gatwick Airport.  The Queen arrived to open the rebuilt Gatwick Airport in 1958.

Photo above courtesy Gatwick Airport.  The Queen opening the North Terminal at Gatwick Airport in 1988.

Flags on local churches and Town Halls which had been lowered after the announcement of the Queen’s death, were raised again on Saturday morning to mark the start of King Charles III’s reign following the Principal Proclamation at the Accession Council at St James’ Palace in London.

Photo above shows St Mary’s Church in Oxted with the flag at half mast following the announcement of the death of Her Majesty the Queen. Photo courtesy Tracey Franklin.

Photo above shows Reigate Town Hall. The flags were flown at full mast for the Proclamation of King Charles III.  Photo credit Tracey Franklin.

The proclamation of the new King was read out in all countries and counties of the United Kingdom and ceremonies continued on Sunday.  The Mayor of Reigate and Banstead, Councillor Frank Kelly read the local proclamation for King Charles III at the Harlequin Theatre in Redhill.  

A ceremony was held in Crawley, read by The Mayor, Councillor Jilly Hart, in front of the Town Hall.  

The proclamation for the County of Surrey was held at Guildford Cathedral in the presence of the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey and ended with the National Anthem:

The High Sheriff of Surrey, His Honour Christopher Critchlow and the Choir of Guildford Cathedral.

Picture credit: Reigate & Banstead Borough Council.

Local books of condolence will be opened at:

Town Hall (Mayor’s Parlour) in Reigate

The Harlequin Theatre in Redhill

Banstead Community Centre

Horley Community Centre

Opening hours of the books in Town Hall and The Harlequin Theatre are:
Saturday 10 September and Saturday 17, 9am to 6pm
Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm (from Monday 12 September)

Opening hours of the books in Banstead and Horley Community Centres are:
Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm (from Monday 12 September)

Please be aware that security checks may be in operation.

The nearest parking for the Town Hall is Bancroft Road multi-storey car park. On-site parking is available for blue badge holders only.

You can also deliver your written tribute by hand to a special post box at the Town Hall for inclusion into the loose-leaf books.

An online Book of Condolence can be found at https://www.royal.uk/send-message-condolence

Letters to The King sending condolences should be sent to:
FAO The King’s Private Secretary,
Buckingham Palace,
London,
SW1A 1AA

Donations and flowers

Rather than laying flowers, mementoes or tributes please consider donating to a charity in the name of Her Majesty The Queen to either a cause she closely identified with or a charity of your own choice. Details of these can be found on the Royal Family website at www.royal.uk/charities-and-patronages.

If you wish to lay flowers, designated areas for floral tributes are at the flag poles at:

Town Hall Reigate’s ceremonial entrance

Memorial Park, Redhill

Lady Neville Recreation Ground, Banstead

Horley Recreation Ground

Please remember to remove all packaging first, including plastic wrapping. This is because, at the appropriate time, flowers will be taken for composting.

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In Crawley, a book of condolence is available to sign in the Town Hall foyer from 10am until 4pm on Friday 9 September and then from 9am to 4pm during the period of national mourning, excluding the weekends.

Additional books of condolence will be available to sign at K2 Crawley leisure centre and The Hawth from the afternoon of 9 September.

Floral tributes can be left at the bandstand in Memorial Gardens. Please do not leave any candles or lanterns. Flowers will be cleared away the day after Her Majesty the Queen’s funeral. All notes on the tributes will be retained, digitised and stored in the Town Hall.

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In Horsham, Books of Condolence are open at public sites to enable residents and visitors to express their sympathy.

Books are available at:

• The Council offices at Parkside (open weekdays 9am – 5pm)
• The Capitol Horsham (open Mondays to Saturdays 1.30pm – 8pm, Sundays 1.30pm to 5pm)
• Horsham Museum (open Tuesdays to Saturdays 10am – 4pm)

Members of the public are welcomed to lay floral tributes as a mark of respect in the Garden of Remembrance at St Mary’s Church in the Causeway, Horsham. A steward will receive floral tributes at the front of the church and place them on behalf of the public.