Officials Across Sussex Express Sadness At The Passing Of Her Majesty The Queen

Councils, councillors, bishops and mayors have paid tribute and expressed sadness at the death of The Queen, with books of condolence opening across Sussex.

Mayor of Crawley, Councillor Jilly Hart:

“I was extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. On behalf of Crawley Borough Council, its councillors and residents, our warmest thoughts go to the rest of the Royal family at this difficult time as we join the nation in mourning.

“We are very proud to have hosted Her Majesty the Queen here in our town on several occasions during her reign. Her dedication and service to her country was exceptional and she touched the hearts of millions of people across the nation, Commonwealth and the world. She will be fondly remembered.”

Crawley Borough Council 

The Union flag outside the Town Hall has been lowered to half-mast and marks the start of the period of national mourning.

A book of condolence is available to sign in the Town Hall foyer from 10am today (Friday 9 September) until 4pm and then from 9am-4pm during the period of national mourning, excluding the weekends.

Additional books of condolence will be available to sign at K2 leisure centre and The Hawth later this afternoon.

You can leave messages of condolence on our Facebook page at facebook.com/crawleycouncil. An online book of condolence has been opened on the Royal Family’s website at royal.uk/send-message-condolence.

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.

A two minute silence for the death of Her Majesty the Queen will be observed at 11am outside the Town Hall on the day of the State Funeral.

Her Majesty the Queen visited Crawley a number of times during her reign (1950, 1958, 1969, 1982, 1988 and 2006).

In 1950, the then Princess Elizabeth opened Manor Royal, the main road through Crawley’s industrial estate. The name had been kept a secret because it had been chosen by the Princess after looking at an old tithe map of the area.

Shortly after in 1958, Her Majesty the Queen officially opened Gatwick Airport and Queens Square. She also visited Langley Green Community Hall, Crawley Technical College, St Mary’s Church in Southgate and the George Hotel in the High Street. Just over ten years later in 1969 Her Majesty the Queen opened Holy Trinity School and visited the Town Hall.

In 1982, Her Majesty the Queen laid the foundation stone at St Catherine’s Hospice in Crawley. Six years later, in 1988, Her Majesty the Queen attended the opening of the North Terminal at Gatwick Airport.

In 2006, Her Majesty the Queen again visited Queens Square before heading to Thomas Bennett Community College, Varian Medical Systems and also Carey House sheltered housing scheme in West Green.

Mid Sussex District Council

We are deeply saddened at the announcement from Buckingham Palace that our beloved Sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has died.

The Council offers most sincere and heartfelt condolences to His Majesty The King and The Royal Family at this difficult time.

Councillor Margaret Belsey, Chairman of Mid Sussex District Council said:

“Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was our greatest public servant and the longest reigning Monarch in British History. Words seem inadequate to suitably express our gratitude for and our admiration of her unerring dedication to duty in the service of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations over the past 70 years.

“It’s incredible to think that she took the throne only seven years after the end of World War II, at just 25 years of age. In an ever shifting and changing world, Her Majesty has always shown remarkable decency and dignity throughout her reign. She has overseen a period of tremendous change in the way we live our lives, whilst remaining a constant source of stability for the nation and the wider Commonwealth.

“Her Majesty touched the lives of so many during her reign and she leaves a lasting legacy having transformed the Commonwealth, modernised the monarchy and through her extensive charitable endeavours.

“On behalf of the Council I would like to express our deepest and most sincere condolences to The Royal Family at this time of national mourning.”

The Chairman of the Council will be sending an official letter of condolence to The Royal Family at this difficult time.

As a mark of respect, the Union Flag will be flown at half-mast throughout the national mourning period, except on the day that a new Sovereign is proclaimed.

A Book of Condolence is open at Mid Sussex District Council, Oaklands, Oaklands Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 1SS. The Council offices will be open from 9am until 5pm, including Saturdays and Sundays, until the state funeral takes place. If people wish to express their sadness online, they can do so at www.royal.uk/ 

During the next 10 days, The Chairman’s programme of events and engagements may be subject to change. Events that do continue as planned shall each begin with a 2-minute period of silence. Council services will continue to be provided as normal.

Horsham District Council 

Horsham District Council has, with great sadness, received an announcement from Her Majesty The Queen’s Press Secretary regarding the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral Castle on 8 September 2022.

The Council joins the nation in expressing its deep sadness at this time, as we remember with affection and gratitude the lifetime of service given by Her Majesty The Queen. 

The Chairman of the Council will be sending an official letter of condolence to the Royal family at this difficult time.

As a mark of respect, flags will be flown at half- mast from the Carfax and Park House building.

Books of condolence will be opened at our public sites to enable residents and visitors to express their sympathy, these will include the Council offices at Parkside (open weekdays 9am - 5pm), The Capitol (open Mondays to Saturdays 1.30pm – 8pm, Sundays 1.30pm to 5pm), Horsham Museum (open Tuesdays to Saturdays 10am - 4pm).

The Chairman of the Council and Council officers will join with the nation in observing a two minute silence across all the Council’s offices at 11am on the day of the funeral.

Mayor of Hastings pays respects to Her Majesty The Queen

The Mayor of Hastings, Cllr James Bacon, has sent his condolences to the Royal Family on the sad news of the death of Her Majesty The Queen, which was announced yesterday evening.

Cllr Bacon has laid a wreath on behalf of local people at the town's war memorial in Alexandra Park.

The Town Hall and MMH flags are flying at half-mast and other flags have been removed.

Cllr Bacon said:

"I want to pass on my sincere condolences to the Royal Family on behalf of Hastings Borough Council and all the people of Hastings. We are asking anyone who wishes to lay a floral tribute to leave these at the war memorial in Alexandra Park.

“There will be a book of condolence in Muriel Matters House for those who want to sign it, and anyone who wants to write a virtual condolence message should visit our website where you will be able to find directions on how to do this."

Statement from the Mayor of Eastbourne, Councillor Pat Rodohan

The councillors and officers of Eastbourne Borough Council are deeply saddened at the news of the death of Her Majesty The Queen, Elizabeth II.

Our thoughts are with the Royal Family at this time.

A book of condolence will be opened at reception in the own Hall. Here, the Union Flag is flying at half-mast and also at The Bandstand.

Statement from the Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, Councillor David Tutt

This is a very sad day for our country. The Queen gave a lifetime of dedicated service to this nation and earlier this year so many of us proudly celebrated her astonishing achievement of 70 years as monarch.

My thoughts are with the Royal Family at this time.

Statement from the Opposition Leader, Councillor Robert Smart

We are devastated to hear of our Queen's passing. Our thoughts are with her family. 

The Bishop of Chichester, Dr Martin Warner, said yesterday evening:

Thanks be to God for the life of his servant, Queen Elizabeth II. 

Her death is a moment of bereavement for the whole nation, and for the Commonwealth.  She will remain in our hearts and minds as an exceptional example of public duty and commitment to her high calling, carried out with unswerving faith in God.  Let us come together as a nation to mark her death with dignity and pride.

Our prayers are with those who have been close to her in the service of the crown over many years, together with all the members of the Royal Family as we pray for the new Sovereign, King Charles.

Chichester District mourns the death of Her Majesty, The Queen

Chichester District Council and its residents join the nation in mourning the death of Her Majesty, The Queen.

Councillor Elizabeth Hamilton, Chairman of Chichester District Council, said:

On behalf of everyone in our district and at Chichester District Council, we wish to express our great sadness and sincere condolences to the Royal Family following the incredibly sad news of the death of Her Majesty, The Queen.

The love and admiration for the Queen has continued throughout the years. Her Majesty’s dedication and commitment to her role and country is unrivalled and her historic reign will never be forgotten. 

 We are all deeply saddened by this news and our thoughts and prayers are with the Royal Family at this time.

 As a mark of respect, the union flag will be flown at half-mast at Chichester District Council’s East Pallant House offices in Chichester.

 Messages of condolence can be placed on the online book of condolence at: www.royal.uk

Residents who do not have online access can send a message of condolence to the Chairman’s Office, Room 102, West Sussex County Council, County Hall, Chichester, PO19 1RQ. Alternatively, Chichester District Council also has a book of condolence at its East Pallant House offices and this can be signed during normal opening hours. Opening hours can be found at: www.chichester.gov.uk/contactus

West Sussex County Council Chairman Cllr Pete Bradbury

This is a terribly sad day for the nation and the people of West Sussex. Her Majesty has a long association with our county. She was dignified and gracious and held in great affection by the public - this was clear to all when the country joined in celebrating her reign through the multitude of Platinum Jubilee events.

Her Majesty’s passing represents the end of an era for our nation and I know many people will want to pay their respects in the coming days.

West Sussex County Council joins the nation in mourning the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. 

Her Majesty The Queen visited West Sussex on many occasions. Pictures from some of these visits can be seen online.

The first was when she was almost three, staying with her grandfather King George V, who was convalescing in Bognor. The young Princess delighted in making sand pies with her grandmother, Queen Mary, and watching her have fun on the beach provided a tonic for her grandfather who later bestowed a royal suffix to the town, making it Bognor Regis.

The most recent visit by Her Majesty was in November 2017, when she visited the Canine Partners charity in Midhurst. The charity trains dogs to assist people with physical disabilities. In the afternoon The Queen was at Chichester Festival Theatre where she watched a production by the Theatre’s Youth Theatre.

Other places she has visited included Crawley, Goodwood, Felpham, Gatwick, Durrington, Burgess Hill and Christ’s Hospital.

The flags on public buildings around the county will be lowered to half-mast.

An online book of condolence will be opened on Buckingham Palace’s website: www.royal.uk

Residents who do not have online access can send a message of condolence to the Chairman’s Office, Room 102, West Sussex County Council, County Hall, Chichester PO19 1RQ.

If you would like to view other historic photos of the late Queen then visit West Sussex Pictures and search ‘Queen Elizabeth II’.

Statement from Chair of Lewes District Council, Councillor Adrian Ross

Burgess Hill Town Mayor, Peter Chapman: 

I was very sad to learn of the passing of HRH Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96, who reigned over the Commonwealth for an incredible 70 years and was the absolute icon of our country.

As a Monarch she was a rock of calm stability in an often turbulent world. A Queen who epitomised faithful service and devotion to her role.

We can find comfort in her passing, knowing that here in Burgess Hill, we paid great tribute to the Queen when we marked her Platinum Jubilee with our ‘Jubilee Fest’ programme of events back in June of this year which included the fantastic Jubilee Concert and the lighting of the beacon.

The Queen visited Burgess Hill in 1999 with her husband Prince Phillip to officially open the Triangle Leisure. She also met members of the public in the town centre and visited the Town Council Help Point.

My thoughts, and I’m sure the rest of the town’s are with the Royal Family at this time as they mourn the loss of their mother and grandmother.

An enormous part of our history has now moved on and we await the coronation of King Charles III.

God Save The King

For members of the public, a Book of Condolence will be available in the Town Council Help Point for people to sign, from today - Friday 9 September. An Official online Book of Condolence is available for members of the public to sign. 

The Help Point will be open as follows: Monday - Thursday: 9am - 5pm, Friday 9am - 4:30pm. The Help Point will also be open tomorrow - Saturday 10 September - between 10am and 12pm. 

For those that would like to lay flowers, they will be welcome to lay them in the War Memorial Gardens, in Church Walk, in front of the photograph of Her Majesty the Queen. After Her Majesty's funeral, the flowers will be removed, composted and the compost used to plant a memorial tree at Batchelors Farm, at a later date. 

St John's Church will be holding a Parish Service on Sunday 11 September, at 10am. Members of the public are welcome to attend. Today - Friday 9 September - at 12 noon, a bell will ring 96 times, one ring for each year of Her Majesty's life. 

Further guidance on the National and Local Proclamations, and the date of Her Majesty's funeral will follow, in accordance with national guidelines.