Officials at Cheshire East Council have paid tribute to Her Majesty The Queen.
A spokesperson said it was with profound sadness that Cheshire East Council learned of the death of Her Majesty the Queen at her Scottish home Balmoral.
They said: “Her Majesty’s passing will leave an enormous void in the life of this country and our condolences are extended to all members of the Royal Family.
“No reigning monarch had served this country for longer or with such devotion, dedication and loyalty to her people.”
The council’s leader and deputy leader, as well as the borough’s mayor, have led the tributes to Her Majesty.
Councillor Sam Corcoran
Leader, Cheshire East Council
Cllr Sam Corcoran, leader of the council, said: “The borough of Cheshire East shares the great sense of loss felt by the royal family, the country as a whole and the Commonwealth at the passing of Her Majesty.
“The Queen was a truly remarkable woman and her death has created a feeling of enormous loss.
“She ruled this great country for 70 years, surpassing the reign of Queen Victoria. In 2022 she celebrated her platinum jubilee at the age of 96.
“Her ability to reach out to her subjects, through her television broadcasts and her public speeches, and appearances were instrumental in making us all feel a part of one big royal family, envied around the globe.
“Through conflict and war, she had been an inspirational and comforting figure, whose strong words of quiet defiance and unity held the nation together.
“Her Majesty won the respect and admiration of nations, governments and monarchs around the world.
“Fifteen British prime ministers have served under her, plus the many prime ministers, former prime ministers and leaders of our Commonwealth countries.
“The whole country and Commonwealth came together in a spirit of enormous celebration to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – 70 years of unwavering service to her people.
“Today I have sent a message of condolence to Buckingham Palace on behalf of this council and the residents of Cheshire East.
“Flags on all council buildings will be flown at half-mast and I urge all businesses and public organisations, where possible, to do the same.
“Flags will return to full mast for the proclamation, announcing our new King. They will be lowered again for the period of mourning.
“Anyone who wishes to lay flowers is welcome to place them at Westfields in Sandbach, Macclesfield Town Hall, or at Municipal Square in Crewe.”
Councillor Craig Browne
Deputy Leader, Cheshire East Council
Cllr Craig Browne, deputy leader of the council, said: “The reign of Queen Elizabeth II has been a truly remarkable period in the history of this country and the Commonwealth and I share with the leader a sense of enormous loss at her passing at the age of 96.
“Queen Elizabeth acceded the throne on the sudden death of her father King George VI at the age of 56, in February 1952, which was still a period of austerity following the Second World War.
“Her reign was not without its challenges, set-backs and tragedies – the deaths of her father at a relatively young age, Diana Princess of Wales, her younger sister, Princess Margaret, the Queen Mother and – more recently – her husband Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh.
“And the Queen, herself, overcame Covid-19, despite her age.
“Stoically, she continued to carry out her duties well into her nineties, continuing to carry out her head of state responsibilities, while cutting back on many of the less formal and social activities she enjoyed.
“Her passing ends a remarkable and ever-changing era in the history of this country – a second Elizabethan period.
“I echo the words of the leader, Cllr Sam Corcoran, in sending my sincere condolences to the Royal Family.”
Councillor David Marren
Mayor of Cheshire East
The mayor of Cheshire East, Cllr David Marren, said: “This is an extremely sad occasion for the royal family, the nation and the Commonwealth and, as mayor of the borough, I shall be sending my personal condolences to Buckingham Palace.
“My thoughts are with the royal family at this time.
“The Queen was an extremely special person, who devoted her entire life to her people, her country and the Commonwealth, continuing to serve her people, even when mobility problems limited her public appearances and duties.
“She was a truly remarkable person, and I invite the residents of Cheshire East to join me in expressing our sorrow at her loss by signing the many books of condolence that will be placed in churches, council buildings and other public places throughout the borough.
“You can post messages of condolence in a number of condolence books, which will be available at council offices in Sandbach, Macclesfield and Crewe and in our public libraries, as well as on the council website.”
