A busy farmer paid his final respects to 'custodian of the countryside' Queen Elizabeth II by carving a giant tribute of her iconic royal cypher in a field. Will Jones was busy drilling on the day of the Queen's funeral but when he took a break at around 11am decided to pay tribute to her in a field of stubble.
The 28-year-old spent around 40 minutes using his machinery to draw the iconic monogram, which was about 108m x 90m, in a field near the hamlet of Southburn in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The trainee farm manager managed to complete the task just ahead of the farm being brought to a halt as they observed the national two-minute silence.
The singleton said that her Majesty had been a 'steadfast figure' for agriculture and the countryside ever since she'd succeeded the throne, and one that will be sorely missed. Incredible aerial photographs captured by Will using his drone show the unmistakable emblem neatly carved into what was a field of spring barley with the beautiful Yorkshire countryside in the background.
Will, of Driffield, of East Riding of Yorkshire, said: "She's done so much for us. The Queen hasn't done anything specific for me but she's been a steadfast figure for agriculture and the countryside ever since dot. She's a country lady - she rode horses. Prince Charles has always had an interest in farming. They're custodians of the countryside and one of the largest landowners in the country.
"They're farmers too if you put it down to that really - they have land, so we're all the same. She's just a wonderful figure and like the country's grandmother and the grandmother that everyone wants to have - she's just fantastic."
The farmer said that he used a couple of tram lines for the straight lines of the 'E' and 'R' and then a cultivator on the back of his tractor to create further markings. He also used his drone while he worked to ensure it was as neat as possible.
Will said: "I was supposed to go down to the funeral in London but I couldn't go, I was gutted. We were all going to have the day off at work and we decided 'we've got plenty to do' as we're drilling next year's crops at the minute.
"I had a break in the morning and thought 'I can't do a lot but I can put her emblem in the field' and if anyone can see it from the road, I thought it would be quite nice. It was a bit last minute. It was 11am and I thought if I cracked on I reckon I could probably have it done in time for the two-minute silence.
"It was just a little moment when it [the tribute] was done because I realised that she was gone. She's one of those people that have always been there. We're used to nothing else and it seemed like she was an eternal figure in our country and now she's gone and it's a bit sad really."
