Manchester city centre on a Friday evening is usually a hive of activity with workers often celebrating the end of their week with food, drinks and laughter. St Ann’s Square, however, painted a much more peaceful picture as mourners paid their respects to Queen Elizabeth II.
As the evening went on and the sun set over St Ann’s Church, with its half-mast Union Flag gently blowing in the September breeze, the square became increasingly calm and quiet as the minutes between mourners arriving grew longer. Meanwhile, just metres away on Deansgate, it seemed almost a completely different world, as pub golfers sang along to Oasis with a busker outside House of Fraser.
Earlier in the day the heavens opened and drenched those who came to lay flowers and other messages of condolence at the base of the Richard Cobden statue but as the afternoon wore on the skies cleared and hundreds of floral tributes were left.
People of all ages came to mourn the 96-year-old Monarch - from parents bringing children in school uniform, to tracksuited teenagers walking through town with their mates and even elderly people for whom Her Majesty’s presence would have been one of the only constants throughout their entire lives.
Everyone remembered the Queen in their own way. A lot sat in quiet contemplation as they gazed upon the tributes, while some took photographs and videos, as is often the way in this modern world, which has changed so much in the 70 years since Elizabeth II ascended the throne.
Laura McKiernan heard of yesterday’s momentous news as she drove home from work. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News as she laid flowers, the 25-year-old said: “I’ve just come to pay my respects.
“I was a little bit shocked. It’s just weird that it’s all over on a random day in September but I suppose she lived to a good old age.”
Raul Mateo, 31, admired the Queen from afar as he grew up in Spain. He moved to Manchester eight years ago and now lives in Stockport.
“Even before I moved here, I always felt like she represented the county in many positive ways,” he said. “I’ve always been attracted to what she represented and now that she’s died it’s going to be different.”
This morning, Leader of Manchester City Council, Councillor Bev Craig laid tributes, along with Councillor Donna Ludford - the Lord Mayor. In her message of condolence, Coun Craig spoke of the “dignity and dedication” that Her Majesty served Manchester and the rest of the country with.
Another anonymous message of condolence left by the statue read: “You were our Monarch who also felt like a family member we never met. You set the standard for a nation. God bless you, Your Majesty.”
That familiarity and standards are sentiments that have been shared by so many people in the last couple of days, including Catherine Chapman, 64.
She said: “It’s really hard to speak. We’ve known her all our lives and she’s an inspiration.
“I think it’s a shock to everyone. even though she’s the age she was. She was just working two days ago… there’s no words.”
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