Leading figures across region pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II following her death

Her Majesty passed away peacefully at her Balmoral home in Scotland on Thursday afternoon, September 8.

Bosses at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Mansfield Community and Sutton’s King’s Mill hospitals have spoken of their sadness.

In a joint statement, Claire Ward, trust chairman, and Paul Robinson, trust chief executive, said: “We were saddened to learn of the passing of Her Majesty the Queen and are sure we speak for the whole of Sherwood Forest Hospitals and our local communities in sending our greatest sympathies to the Royal Family for their loss.

"Her Majesty was the epitome of duty and public service and her passing will be greatly felt by so many across our country and the world.

“She will be sorely missed by many of our staff and patients, who remain grateful for her commitment and dedication to the NHS staff she personally awarded the George Cross to earlier this year.”

As a mark of respect to Her Majesty and the Royal Family, all flags throughout Nottinghamshire’s police stations will fly at half-mast.

Chief Constable Craig Guildford led tributes on behalf of Nottinghamshire Police and county police and crime commissioner.

He said: “As servants of the Crown, it has been an honour to serve Her Majesty the Queen.

“She was undoubtedly a remarkable figurehead, not only for criminal justice and policing, but for the Commonwealth and the countless organisations and charities she has supported before and throughout her reign.

“We are deeply saddened by this news today.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Royal Family at this solemn time and we join the rest of the policing family across England and Wales in paying our respects.”

Caroline Henry, commissioner, said: “My office and I are deeply moved by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

“She epitomised a true commitment to public service which will undoubtedly be her enduring legacy. I, like many policing colleagues around the country, will be paying our respects in the coming days and our thoughts and prayers remain with the Royal Family during this difficult time.”

Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service said it was ‘deeply saddened’ by her passing.

Chief Fire Officer Craig Parkin said: “We join the nation in mourning the loss of Her Majesty The Queen. 

“All at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service send our deepest condolences and sympathies to the Royal Family.

“As a mark of respect to Her Majesty and to recognise her incredible service to the country, the Union Flag will be flown at half-mast at our stations.”

Coun Sue Saddington, Newark & Sherwood Council chairman, said: “It is with the greatest sadness that we learnt of the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

“Her Majesty’s death is an enormous loss to the nation having spent an entire lifetime of devoted service and duty to the United Kingdom.

“The majority of us will have never known a time without our Queen.

“On behalf of Newark & Sherwood Council and our residents, may I offer our sincere condolences and convey our deepest sympathies to the entire Royal Family.”

Scott Knowles, East Midlands Chamber chief executive, said: “We are deeply saddened to learn of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s passing.

“The Queen has been the epitome of stability and patriotism throughout her seven decades of unwavering public service, an icon who has symbolised British patriotism across the world.

“As patron of the British Chambers of Commerce, she was a true friend to the business community and, as the figurehead of the Commonwealth, she was the tie between nations that have become important trading partners.

“It is with great sorrow that we must now come to terms with a Great Britain without our Queen, but she has already demonstrated to us on so many occasions the strength we will need to move forward.”

The Nottinghamshire Freemasons and the United Grand Lodge of England said: “It was with the greatest sadness that the Provincial Grand Lodge of Nottinghamshire and the United Grand Lodge of England learned of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, our longest serving British Sovereign.

“Queen Elizabeth’s father, His late Majesty King George VI and her consort, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, were both Freemasons.

“Her cousin, HRH The Duke of Kent, has been Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England since 1967, and will be sending a message of condolence on behalf of all English Freemasons to His Majesty The King.

“Another of her cousins, HRH Prince Michael of Kent, has been Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales since 1982, and an announcement is being made from Mark Masons’ Hall.”