Heartfelt tributes paid to 'wonderful monarch'
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TRIBUTES have been flooding in following the sad passing of Her Majesty the Queen.
The Queen passed away at her beloved Balmoral last Thursday, bringing the curtain down on an incredible and unparalled 70 reign.
Her son, Charles, now assumes the throne and will reign as King Charles III.
A book of condolence has been opened at the North Church, Buckie and will remain available to the public from 8am to 8pm until the day after Her Majesty's funeral. Those wishing to leave floral tributes to the Queen are invited to do so at the town's war memorial.
Leading the tributes locally was the Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire Andrew Simpson.
He said: "The news of the passing of Her Majesty the Queen brings great sadness to many in this country and across the globe.
"In 1953, she spoke of dedicating her life to serving others. This she has done with a sense of duty and diligence that has been an example to us all.
"Throughout her long reign, Her Majesty has been a symbol of stability through a time of much change.
"Her contributions to her country and the Commonwealth have been many. Her Majesty visited Historic Banffshire twice.
"First, in 1961 when she and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh landed at Macduff harbour and travelled along the coast stopping at many villages and towns.
"In 1982, she visited the boatyard and Fishermen’s Memorial in Buckie. Both occasions are well remembered by many who were present with a sense of appreciation for her interest in our communities.
"Her active patronage and support for numerous charities, including Cancer Research UK, RNLI and Boys' Brigade, has been a great encouragement to volunteers and others.
"Her Majesty actively encouraged the development of schemes to recognise the achievements of individuals, voluntary groups, businesses and others.
"Through these, many in our area have had their hard work and commitment recognised.
"As the country mourns the passing of Her Majesty the Queen, we remember also her family and extend sincere condolences to them at this time of loss. As well as looking back, we also look forward and offer support and loyalty to the new King."
Moray's Lord Lieutenant General Seymour Monro described the Queen as a "wonderful monarch", speaking of her affection for Moray, which she regularly visited, with her children going to school at Gordonstoun. Her Majesty also visited Banffshire on two occasions.
“Queen Elizabeth II was a truly wonderful monarch for the United Kingdom for 70 years," he continued.
"There were many challenging times during her reign, but the Queen always gave her people and her country superb leadership as our sovereign.
"She was an inspirational, steadying and wise influence over the country’s affairs.
"Queen Elizabeth succeeded her father, King George VI, at the young age of 24. She was on the throne for longer than any other British monarch.
"As Queen she visited every corner of her realm on many occasions. As Head of the Commonwealth she travelled around the world and played a major role in encouraging the countries of the Commonwealth to work and act together.
"Queen Elizabeth was a most active patron of hundreds of organisations who benefited from her support. She was head of the Armed Forces and took a keen, personal and constant interest in all three services.
"She was well known for her devotion to duty. This included the day-to-day business of being a constitutional monarch as well as giving weekly advice to her many prime ministers.
"Together with her consort, Prince Philip, she ensured that the Royal Family evolved over the years.
"Formal occasions were conducted with appropriate ceremony and to the highest standards, whilst the business of the day was carried out effectively and conscientiously.
"Our late Queen was very fond of Moray and, of course, saw her children regularly when they were at Gordonstoun.
"She and Prince Philip last visited Moray in 2014 when they went to RAF Lossiemouth and to 39 Engineer Regiment at Kinloss.
"Queen Elizabeth II will be remembered as an outstanding Queen for her people, for the nation and for the Commonwealth. She was highly respected all over the world."
Moray MP Douglas Ross said the Queen embodied the "very best" of the nation throughout her long reign.
He said: “Her Majesty The Queen was a national treasure who represented the very best of our United Kingdom throughout her entire life.
“The dedication and commitment of Her Majesty to this country and her people was unmatched. For 70 years, the Queen led the country through good times and bad, an unwavering presence of strength in each and every national moment of adversity.
“There was nobody else like Her Majesty. This loss will be felt dearly across Scotland, the United Kingdom and around the world. Everyone will remember Her Majesty as a warm, loving and caring mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and monarch.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the Royal Family and the entire country at this very difficult time.”
Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Karen Adam said the Queen had been a "rock" for the nation throughout her reign.
“I am terribly saddened by Her Majesty the Queen’s passing. Scotland loved, respected and admired her. She is someone who has always been here, a constant. She was as familiar to us as family.
“When I heard the news, I felt a wave of grief. Our head of state – who acted as a source of security for many during times of turmoil. People looked to Her Majesty for guidance and leadership. She gave many a sense that regardless of what happened in this world, she was always there and a rock through it all, an example of strength. She would tell us that better days were ahead, and we believed it. She was a comfort.
“It’s so incredibly sad, particularly now, we’ve all been through so much.
“Although my constituency office is now closed during the official period of national mourning, please reach out if you have urgent casework queries or need to talk.
“Rest in peace Queen Elizabeth II”
Tributes were paid by Buckie councillors Sonya Warren and Neil McLennan.
Councillor Warren hailed the Queen as an "incredible role model".
She said: "She was a remarkable lady, totally dedicated to her role over such a long time and from a very young age.
"As a woman she was an incredible role model who carried out many challenging duties with poise and dignity. Her wise and calming words of encouragement during dark times will be missed by many.
"She has been a constant presence for most of our lives,a voice of comfort and reassurance.
"Her love of Moray and Scotland as a whole resonated with many."
Councillor McLennan said the Queen's contribution to the country had been "unsurpassable".
“Her Majesty the Queen will go down in history as one of the most stable, influential and respected leaders ever seen.
"Her wisdom, her grace, her service and her duty combined are quite simply unsurpassable. I have been, and am, honoured to serve organisations of which she was the patron and was honoured to receive an appointment signed off by her last year – one of her first acts on returning to service after illness.
"Many people across the country reflect on the privilege they have had to serve her or the inspiration she has been. At Buckie North Church...the first two members of the public to join the Depute Lieutenants and I signing the book of condolence were mothers with young children followed by an elderly gentlemen.
"Again this afternoon, with Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire Andrew Simpson, we spoke with a group from the old folks home and then some young people keen to pay their respects at Cluny Square – all apt symbol of all generations paying their respects to a much loved and admired monarch. May she go now into God’s loving hands and be again with her Philip. God save the Queen.”
Moray Presbytery Moderator Rev Jaco Boonzaaier said the Queen would continue to be an inspiration for "generations to come".
He said: "Moray Presbytery join the rest of the nation expressing great sadness at the time of Queen Elizabeth’s passing.
"We thank the good Lord for her life and times. Her selfless service will continue to inspire generations to come. Our deepest condolences and sympathies are with her family members."
Among the many organisations Her Majesty was patron of is the Boys' Brigade.
Alan McIntosh, Captain of 1st Buckie Company Boys' Brigade said: "Her Majesty the Queen has been a very supportive patron of the Boys’ Brigade and it is so fitting that in our 75th anniversary and the Queen’s last year in office that 1st Buckie were awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
"A remarkable woman who leaves many memories throughout Boys’ Brigade circles."
The Queen was born on April 21, 1926 and assumed the throne following the death of her father, King George VI, in 1952. It was to herald the beginning of the longest reign in British history, spanning seven decades. Her Majesty celebrated her platinum jubilee during the summer.
It was a reign which saw colossal changes in society and over her 70 years on the throne the Queen was served by a total of 15 Prime Ministers, beginning with Winston Churchill and ending with Liz Truss, who was appointed just 48 hours before Her Majesty's death.
