The Magazine
Issue 33
2002
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Queen
Mother's Death
Within minutes of the sad news of the death of H M Queen Elizabeth, The Queen
Mother being announced on BBC TV, a well-planned contingency plan under the
overall code-name of Tay Bridge, swung into action.I, as the Deputy of Dover
Castle was en route back to the UK from a holiday in France. My mobile began to
go into meltdown as meetings were hastily convened with representatives of
Clarence House, Dover District Council, English Heritage and the Registrar of
the Cinque Ports, Mr Ian Gill.At the Lord Warden's official residence, Walmer
Castle, Books of Condolence were opened the following day with well over 1,500
people signing and leaving messages in the first few hours. Many also laid
flowers in the adjacent Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother's Garden.A similar
Book of Condolence was also opened at St Mary's in Castro Church in Dover Castle
for those who attended the morning
service, at which special mention was made of the part the Lord Warden had
played in maintaining the historic role. On the Monday similar Books of
Condolence were opened in all the Cinque Ports towns. Meanwhile, at Dover
Castle, a 41-gun salute was fired by 100 Royal Artillery ( V). I carried out
the inspection and the event was watched by a number of civic dignitaries and
the crowds who had heard about it through the media. The last time a similar
event was staged at the Castle was on the death of King George V1 in February,
1952, although a lesser salute was fired in 1979 when the Queen Mother was
installed as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. On Sunday 7th April, I attended a
service of thanksgiving for the life of the Queen Mother in Canterbury Cathedral
under the direction of the Lord Lieutenant and Dean of Canterbury Cathedral.The
Confederation of the Cinque Ports was well represented at the actual funeral in
London of the Queen Mother. On the military front, my wife and I attended whilst
the Pipes and Drums of the 2nd Bn. The Royal Gurkha Rifles from Sir John Moore
Barracks at Shorncliffe and the Pipes and Drums of the 1st Bn The Royal Irish
Regiment based at Howe Barracks, Canterbury, both took part in the cortege
itself. Among the civilian representatives from the Cinque Ports was the
Registrar, Mr Ian Gill.
Now follows the difficult task of whom to appoint as the new Lord Warden. It
will be hard for those at Downing Street who have to choose to come up with a
name equally as illustrious as H M Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother or recent
predecessors such as Sir Winston Churchill and Sir Robert Menzies. In fact, it
could be several months yet before the outcome is known.President of the Friends
of Dover Castle.
Brigadier David Santa-Olalla.
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