Following Her Majesty the Queen’s funeral, I thought it important to acknowledge the memorials and prayers held across Crawley and across all faiths.

It was an honour to speak and represent Crawley residents at the beautiful commemoration service at St John’s Church on Sunday evening.

Her Majesty the Queen was such an enduring part of our national life.  Most of us will never have remembered another sovereign on the throne.

I will long remember her exemplary example during Covid, her calm but uplifting words quoting from the song “We’ll Meet Again” at the beginning of lockdown, the even-handed way she treated changes in Government and whatever they required her to say in that year’s speech opening Parliament.

The memory, as well, of seeing her sitting alone at her husband Philip’s funeral because of distancing restrictions, she always knew and accepted the rules and the laws of the land applied to her as much as everyone else, an important quality needed for those who rule over us.

And I remember her leadership in good times too, the gold and platinum Jubilees were some of the best times I saw our country celebrating what makes us great about ourselves.

The London Olympics stand out as a highpoint where she played her part, with grace and at appropriate times, humour.  Even late in life she was enchanting new generations with her nod to Paddington Bear, in the sketch specially written for her for the Jubilee.

Her reign has been long and saw the world transformed around us, may she rest in peace.

And now we look to a new era, we live in a democracy with a constitutional monarchy and I wish our new King, Charles the Third a fulfilling reign.

I have admired many of his statements on the environmental issues of the day, often from a time such discussions were not as mainstream as they are today.  I also support his commitments made previously to be a Defender of all Faiths.

Cllr Michael Jones

Leader, Crawley Borough Council

I feel sure that many will want to join me in wishing him great fortune, and indeed for our country.