Coming together

THIS week has been a different week in local politics. I, like others I have spoken to, am deeply saddened by the Death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

I find it difficult to believe, as my son reminded me, that we will no longer have a Queen in our lifetimes.

She has always been there for us in good times and bad, to quote a phrase she herself used about Prince Philip, she was a ‘strength and guide’ in our lives.

But she was more than that, she was a mother, a grandmother, a great grandmother, internationally recognised as

‘The Queen’ and Head of the Commonwealth.

On Thursday night, the cut and thrust of local politics suddenly stopped, the Overview and Scrutiny management committee meeting, due to scrutinise council performance, was suspended by a vote of the members and we stood around in huddles talking about The Queen and what she meant to each of us.

There would be time enough in the coming weeks for robust political debate.

On Friday the whole community was invited to join the Mayor and sign the book of condolence which was put in the foyer at Shute End for everyone to add their thoughts.

Swiftly the centuries old process took over with the accession of the Prince of Wales as King Charles III, and residents met in Wokingham Town square to hear the proclamation.

It was an occasion I will never forget, especially when, at end of the proclamation, you could hear a pin drop.

Then after a short silence, 3,000 or more people roared in perfect unison God save the King. It made me confident that, as a country united, we can achieve anything.

On Monday lunchtime, a proclamation was held Woodley precinct and again I was there to witness it.

It was particularly lovely to see all the primary school children sitting patiently through the speeches and joining in at the appropriate times, I am sure they will one day tell their grandchildren about how they were there when the King was proclaimed.

Personally, I would like particularly to thank all the people who put in place the arrangements in breakneck speed but most importantly, all the Borough residents who filled the market place outside the Town Hall and the precinct in Woodley on Monday and made the occasion really special.

Cllr Pauline Jorgensen is the leader of the opposition Wokingham Borough Council and Conservative member for

Hillside ward