A statement from the Mayor and people of Chelmsford

“It is with the greatest sadness that we learn of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. On behalf of the citizens of the city of Chelmsford, I offer our deep condolences and sympathies to the Royal Family.

Our late Sovereign’s incredible reign has spanned a period of great change, longer than that of any other Monarch in British history. We give thanks for her extraordinary lifetime of service, and we mourn in fellowship across our city, sharing our sorrow with millions of others across the world.

The Queen first visited Chelmsford in 1958, and other visits followed over many decades, all remembered by us with great affection.

In 1963 Chelmsford Cathedral was chosen for the distribution of Royal Maundy money; a visit to the newly established town of South Woodham Ferrers in 1981 is still talked about by residents today; and visits to Chelmsford Cathedral in 1988 and 2014 honoured our communities and diocese.

Her Majesty’s greatest legacy to Chelmsford came in 2012, when The Queen granted city status to the town as part of the celebrations for her Diamond Jubilee. Chelmsfordians are immensely proud of this connection to her long reign, the like of which we have not seen before and perhaps will not again.

The Union Flag will be flown at half-mast at the Civic Centre and at Bell Meadow during the period of national mourning which is now under way. From tomorrow, books of condolence will be available across the city for people to share their own personal messages as this chapter of our nation’s history comes to an end.”

Cllr John Galley, Mayor of Chelmsford