We are profoundly saddened by the news of the death of our Queen which has come as a shock to us all. She has been a central figure in the life and work of our country for so long and only our most venerable villagers will remember a time before she was our Queen. It will take a long time for many of us to come to terms with her passing and our thoughts are with the Royal Family and, in particular, with the new King and his Queen Consort in their grief at this time.
The Queen reigned for longer than any other monarch in British history. Across the world, she was a much loved and highly respected figure recognised for her extraordinary sense of duty and commitment during a time of enormous change. She had a huge range of commitments and links. Here in Oxfordshire, she has been Visitor of Christ Church College, the Oxford Cathedral Church of Christ, University College, St Antony’s College and Oriel College, and Patron of the Henley Royal Regatta. She was also Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Engineers who have a significant presence in Oxfordshire at Bicester. Here in Kirtlington, some villagers may still remember her coming to watch Prince Charles play polo in his younger days and the village celebration of her 70th Jubilee in June this year, with young and old coming together and the church bells ringing, will now remain a special memory for many of us.
Her Majesty was keen to encourage and thank individuals, organisations, and businesses which promoted the British values of strong communities, innovative thinking, and enduring commitment to betterment. Her Majesty and members of her family have visited hundreds of groups here in Oxfordshire and have personally thanked thousands of individuals.
In recent years, The Queen’s interest in the environment was highlighted with her wish for a Queen’s Green Canopy of trees and hedges for all of Britain. Thousands of individuals and groups supported this initiative and planted hundreds of trees during the Platinum Jubilee year. In Oxfordshire this year, every new citizen was provided a tree, a programme we hope will continue for years in honour of our remarkable Queen Elizabeth II.
The Queen’s legacy of devotion to the country will be carried forward by her son, King Charles III. On behalf of the villagers of Kirtlington, we offer him our support and commitment to continue the good work of the monarchy in building trust and strength across our communities.
Kirtlington Parish Council