WARM tributes to the Queen were made in the House of Commons by Worcester and Malvern’s MPs who hailed Her Majesty for her devotion to service.
Robin Walker rose to speak on behalf of the Faithful City and told colleagues from all parties he associated himself with many of the tributes made from both sides of the House.
Speaking on Friday (August 9) in the first of two special sittings of Parliament to allow the country’s 650 MPs to pay their respects and swear an oath of allegiance to the new King, Mr Walker focused his remarks on the Queen’s faith and her ‘profound’ connection with children.
“Her late Majesty swore at her coronation to be a defender of the faith. In so many messages over the decades, she not only defended but enhanced and gently protected the role of faith in our society, not only for her own Church of England but, as we have heard from people of all faiths and denominations, for people across the whole United Kingdom of all faiths and none,” he said.
“When Princess Elizabeth first visited Worcester in 1951, she was already the mother of two small children, and the beautiful princess was greeted by flower girls and a parade of Scouts and Guides outside the cathedral.
“She returned as Queen in 1957 and visited New Road, the most beautiful cricket ground in England, with her consort Prince Philip, touring the boundary in an open top Land Rover to the cheers of 5,000 local schoolchildren.
“After more visits in the 1980s when she distributed Maundy money and celebrated the anniversary of the city’s charter, her final visit to Worcester and the proudest moment of my life was at her diamond jubilee.
“Her Majesty opened the Hive library, a joint city and university library that is the first of its kind in Europe and a fabulous repository of children’s books.
“I was fortunate enough to be in the welcoming party for that visit, and to join some wonderful volunteers from local charities and children from local schools at the event and in being presented to Her Majesty the Queen.
“What struck me, as so many have already reported, was her smile, her bright humorous eyes, her genuine interest in the people to whom she was introduced and the instant connection she formed with children,” Mr Walker added.
Worcester’s MP also reflected on the summer’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations and agreed with former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair’s description of the Queen as a matriarch.
“Of course that is right, but I think we have also lost the world’s favourite granny,” Mr Walker said.
Malvern’s MP Harriett Baldwin said: “I was greatly saddened to learn of the passing of Her Majesty the Queen. She has worked tirelessly her whole life in the service of our country and our Commonwealth.
“Our family of nations has benefitted from her knowledge and experience guiding successive Governments and fifteen different Prime Ministers. Our loss is immeasurable – one of the wisest women in the world has left us.
“As MPs say daily in our prayers in the House of Commons: ‘May she attain everlasting joy and felicity through Jesus Christ our Lord’.
“Long live the King.”
