Braymournsdeath ofPrincessDiana

September 1997

HUNDREDS of people continued queuing to sign Bray’s book of condolences for Princess Diana this week.

Even last Saturday’s funeral and all the media coverage that went with it failed to stem the flow of townspeople lining up to write personal messages to the dead princess.

If anything, the hours of televised mourning served only to increase numbers calling in to sign the book, which was opened last week by the Town Council in response to the tragedy.

The wide cross-section of people waiting to sign revealed the tragedy had made as broad an impact in Bray as it had in countless other places around the world.

Mothers pushing babies in buggies, children on their way home from school, workers taking time out from lunch, pensioners making a special effort - these and many more were the type of people who all made the effort to sign.

Provided at Bray UDC’s Main Street premises following a decision by Councillors at their monthly meeting, the book drew large numbers throughout the latter half of last week.

The crowds turned out again last Saturday afternoon, when the council offices at St Cronan’s buildings on Main Street were opened for three hours to facilitate people wishing to sign in the aftermath of the funeral.

Last Monday the queues kept forming as the book remained open for anyone who hadn’t yet had a chance to sign it.

By Monday lunchtime, over 2,100 people had signed their names, many of them also writing down their personal thoughts and feelings about the tragedy.

The final number of signatures is expected to exceed 2,50000.

According to Bray Town Clerk Joe Boland, it was the first time that the UDC had opened a book of condolences since schoolboy Tim Parry died in an IRA bomb attack on Warrington several years ago.

‘ The public response here following the Princess’s death has been unprecedented. We’ve had people of all ages and from all walks of life queuing up to pay their respects ever since the book was provided,’ he said.

He said that the books would be forwarded to the British Embassy.

As a mark of respect to the late Princess, flags were flown at half mast from Bray UDC’s offices, Bray Town Hall, Greystones Town Commissioners offices and other public buildings throughout Wicklow for the duration of the funeral last Saturday.

Flags were also flown at half mast at a number of other premises, including Lucent Technology in Little Bray.