Birmingham council chiefs and residents lay wreaths and condolences for the Queen

“Queen of our hearts”; “truly amazing”; “you have left a gap in our lives” – these are just some of the heartfelt messages left by Birmingham citizens in the city’s books of condolences in memory of Queen Elizabeth II.

Members of the public have been queuing up to write their notes in the hall of memory at Centenary Square today, following the Queen’s death yesterday afternoon.

Birmingham and West Midlands chiefs also gathered at St Philip’s Cathedral this lunchtime to pray and lay wreaths in remembrance of the Queen.

Chief Executive of Birmingham City Council Deborah Cadman OBE opens one book of condolences with her message as follows: “I reflect with gratitude and admiration on an extraordinary lifetime of service to the UK, the Commonwealth and its people.

“Your grace and determination to do the right thing, and empathy, has provided stability in an otherwise turbulent world.

“RIP.”

At 12.45pm 10 pages of the book were already filled with messages of thanks, sorrow, and respect. One person mourning the loss of the Queen wrote: “You were Queen of our hearts, Queen of our nation; gone but not forgotten.”

Another expressed gratitude to the queen in her role as head of state: “I thank the Queen for her dedication and service to the UK and the Commonwealth.”Another highlighted the loss of a monarch who reigned for over 70 years, writing: “You have left a gap in our lives.”

One grandmother left a moving, personal tribute which said: “I’ve shared a birthday with you for 67 years along with my granddaughter Hannah.

“Thank you for your loyalty.”

Another wrote: “God bless you, your majesty. You were that ever fixed mark that everyone looked for. You will be sadly missed.”

At St Philip’s Cathedral, just before 1pm, the church bells peeled as city council chiefs waited for the reverend to speak before laying their wreaths. Among those paying their respects was Lord Mayor Maureen Cornish, who went first and laid a large wreath at the feet of the statue of Charles Gore, the first Bishop of Birmingham.

Leader of the City Council Ian Ward also laid a wreath, followed by leader of the opposition Councillor Robert Alden, and West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, who laid a bouquet of white flowers.

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