'Impossible to replace!' Shropshire Council leads county's tributes to The Queen

Tributes to Queen Elizabeth flooded in shortly after Buckingham Palace confirmed her death after 70 years as monarch.

The Queen's representative in the county, Anna Turner, the Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, led the tributes and spoke of her sorrow at the news.

She said: “I would like to express huge sadness on the death of our much loved and respected Queen. She has been the longest reigning monarch in British history. We will miss her for the sense of continuity and stability she has given us during a time of rapid social, cultural and technological change.

“We have enjoyed her dignified manner and the love given to her people for all the years of her reign. It is with deep affection and admiration we remember her, but now we have to look forward to the reign of a new monarch.”

Councillor Lezley Picton, the leader of Shropshire Council said the Queen's service to the nation had been incomparable.

She said: "It is with great sadness that we received the news of the passing of our beloved Queen Elizabeth II.

"Her fortitude, stability and love for the UK and Commonwealth is without comparison.

"For many of us she is all we have ever known and impossible to replace."

Councillor Shaun Davies, leader of Telford & Wrekin, said there would be overwhelming sadness at the news.

He said: “The passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is a great national loss and a very sad day for the whole nation. We will shortly be opening books of condolence and making other arrangements for residents of the borough to express their thoughts and sympathies.”

The Mayor of Telford and Wrekin, Councillor Raj Mehta, added: “On behalf of the councillors and staff of Telford & Wrekin Council and the residents of our borough, I would like to express the great sadness felt here at the news of the death of The Queen.

“Our thoughts and deepest sympathy are with the Royal Family at this time.”

Councillor Vince Hunt, Chairman of Shropshire Council, said: “Please know that our whole county, and all of us at Shropshire Council, are deeply saddened by the news of the death of H.M. The Queen. The people of Shropshire are in mourning and their thoughts are with the Royal Family at this time.

“We know that many people will want to express their sadness by laying flowers and we will share venue details soon. Books of condolence will also be available to sign in various public places across the county and Union flags will be flown at half-mast.”

North Shropshire MP, Helen Morgan, said while there would be huge sadness at the Queen's death, there would also be celebration and pride at her reign.

She said: "I am truly saddened by the loss of The Queen and my thoughts this evening are with all members of the Royal Family.

"Queen Elizabeth II was loved by millions of people in the UK and across the world – including here in North Shropshire.

"The scale of the celebrations for this year’s Platinum Jubilee demonstrated just how dearly she is valued.

"I am sure that everybody across North Shropshire will join me in paying tribute to a monarch who acted with dignity and grace during nearly a century of public service.

"When turbulence rocked the nation, The Queen remained a beacon of calmness and solidity whose natural leadership reassured a nation.

"The coming period will be one of great sadness and loss but also pride as we reflect on her reign – one which is fully deserving of celebration."

Ludlow's MP, Philip Dunne, spoke of the Queen's devotion, saying: "The Queen has been our inspiration, and guiding presence in public life for most of our lives. She devoted her life to leading the nation and Commonwealth. Her loss will be deeply felt by the Royal Family, the organisations she supported and all her admirers in the UK and beyond."

Telford MP Lucy Allan offered her sympathies to the Royal Family, adding: "The Queen was loved and admired across our nation and around the world.

"She lived a life of service and devotion to the country. We can be so grateful for her life and her dedication to duty. The Queen was a beacon of light for us all. This a very sad day."

Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard said the Queen had been a "light for the whole world".

He said: "Her Majesty will be remembered by historians as the greatest monarch in British history.

"Over her long reign she epitomised duty, dedication and public service and kept serving her people until the very end.

"She was a light on a hill, a light for the whole world, and the world will be a lesser place without her presence. This is a deeply, deeply sad day."

Shrewsbury & Atcham MP, Daniel Kawczynski, said the nation's gratitude to the Queen would be "unbounded".

He said: "We are all deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Her dignity and honour were recognised around the world as exceptional, and her influence will be sorely missed.

"Our gratitude and good fortune to have had her as our national sovereign for so many decades is unbounded.

"A role model whose unwavering devotion to duty was an example to us all. We mourn her loss as we also celebrate her life. May she rest in peace, and may God save the King."

West Mercia's Police and Crime Commissioner, John Campion, praised the Queen's "steadfast service to the country".

He said: "I am deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II. I want to pass on my deepest condolences to all members of the Royal Family during this immensely sad and difficult time.

"Throughout her 70 year reign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has exemplified public service. As our longest serving monarch, she has remained a shining beacon of stability, leadership and comfort to the country. Her memory will live on, and she will continue to be an inspiration to us all.

"I know communities across West Mercia will share my feelings of sadness and, through our mourning, I hope we will all take the time to remember her steadfast service to the country."

In a joint statement Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service's CFO Rod Hammerton, and Cllr Eric Carter, Chair of Shropshire & Wrekin Fire Authority, expressed their sadness at the news.

They said: "HM The Queen was a much loved and respected monarch and our thoughts are with the Royal Family and the nation at this sad time."

Montgomeryshire MP, Craig Williams, offered his thanks for the Queen's "unrivalled leadership" and her "life of service".

He said: "I am deeply moved that Her Majesty The Queen has passed away.

"Our great United Kingdom has lost its most loyal servant and the Royal Family have lost a beloved family member.

"On Montgomeryshire's behalf, thank you for a life of unrivalled leadership."

Montgomeryshire MS, Russell George, spoke of the Queen's dedication to service.

He said: "Difficult to do justice in a few words to the late Queen’s contribution. My deepest sympathy to His Majesty the King and members of our Royal Family. Her Majesty gave her life to duty and service. Throughout difficult times and crisis she had been constant."

In a statement Shrewsbury & Atcham Labour Party offered its sympathies, saying: "The Queen has been omnipresent in peoples lives in the UK. She showed great strength and resilience through both good and bad times. She will be greatly missed.

"We would like send our heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family on this sad day for the whole country."

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds has paid tribute to The Queen saying: “I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. My thoughts are with the King, her majesty’s other children, grandchildren and all those close to her at this difficult time.

“Her Majesty’s passing, without a doubt, does mark the end of a very long, and indeed a seminal chapter in the history of our nations and for most people her presence has been one of the few constants throughout their lives.

“Throughout her life, Her Majesty served the country with the absolute greatest dedication, honour and dignity. From serving in the Auxiliary Territorial Service during World War Two, to taking the time to speak to local schoolchildren at the opening of the Senedd last year, she never once shied away from public duty.

“Her life will forever be interlinked with that of a period of great change within the UK and although many today would struggle to recognise the world she had been born into, she always seemed to belong very much here today in the present.

“Her Majesty was always a great friend to Wales and she will be deeply missed within the UK, the Commonwealth and further afield. I pray that her journey into the next stage has been peaceful and that she is at rest.”