Humber business community pays tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Tributes have been paid by the Humber business community on the passing of the Queen.
Lord-Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire, James Dick OBE, described receiving the news “with great sorrow”. The former global president of medical services giant Smith & Nephew’s Hull-based wound management division, was appointed in 2019.
He said: “Our thoughts are with the Royal Family as they grieve for the loss of their mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
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“Her Majesty demonstrated extraordinary dedication and commitment to duty throughout her reign, both for her country and the Commonwealth, and did so with a graceful strength and admirable determination.
“She ruled throughout decades of change, from the dark post-war years through to the new horizons of the 21st century, providing essential continuity for the nation.
(Image: Andrew Crozier, Insight Photography)
“This is a period of public grief, when people who do not know each other come together to mourn a national figure who has been consistent throughout our lives and for whom we have collective affection despite not knowing her personally.”
Recalling visits to commemorate Hull’s 700th anniversary in 1999, Beverley for her Golden Jubilee Celebration tour in 2002, the opening of the Queen’s Centre for Oncology and Haematology at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham in 2009 and her final visit, during Hull’s City of Culture Year in 2017 when she visited Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy blade plant and opened the multi-million pound Allam Medical Centre at the University of Hull, he said: “Her Majesty has left a strong platform for the new King to build upon and to carry on his mother’s legacy but also to be able to move the monarchy forward with continuity making it relevant to today’s society.
“Our heartfelt sympathy to The King and members of the Royal Family for the very sad loss of Her Majesty, they will be in our thoughts and prayers. We shall look back in gratitude and look forward to offering our support and loyalty to The King.
“God Save The King.”
Late last year Mr Dick had presented the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service to For Entrepreneurs Only, the near 200-strong collective of inspiring individuals who support their peers and the next generation across Hull and East Yorkshire.
Chief executive Jan Brumby said: “We share in the country’s sadness on the passing of our Monarch, Her Majesty The Queen. Our thoughts are with Her Majesty’s family and friends. God bless Queen Elizabeth the Queen, long live King Charles III.”
As patron of the British Chambers of Commerce, the Queen had written a personal message to the team at Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, thanking them for their efforts during the pandemic.
Dr Ian Kelly, chief executive, and his colleagues, released a joint statement. They said: “All the team at the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce are deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and extend our heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family.
“Her Majesty has been an enduring symbol of strength and continuity throughout her reign and she led a life dedicated to public service since she ascended the throne in 1952, not least as patron of many charities and organisations, including as patron of our own British Chambers of Commerce.
“Her 70-year reign coincided with a rapidly changing world, with huge leaps forward in technology and society. The second Elizabethan era will be remembered as a golden age of progress. The Queen was a regular visitor to the Humber and perhaps one of her most significant engagements in our region was to officially open the Humber Bridge, which unites our region and has driven its economic development.”
The Humber Bridge opening also resonated with Bill Walker, chair of Marketing Humber, with a visit to BP Saltend also part of her day on July 17, 1981.
He said: “It was with the deepest sorrow that we learnedof the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Humber region will have fond and vivid memories of the Queen’s visits during her reign including, of course, the official opening of he Humber Bridge. The thoughts and best wishes of all at marketing Humber, and those of our valued member organisations, are with the royal family at this saddest of times.”
(Image: Hull Daily Mail / Hull Live)
Siemens Gamesa, host of that final industry visit, said the passing “is extremely sad and we offer our sincere condolences”. “Her Majesty officially opened our Hull blade factory in 2017, where her portrait sits proudly in our reception and we thank her for 70 years of service to the country,” a spokesperson said. Five years on from the visit it is now doubling in size.
Clark MacFarlane, who welcomed her that day, said: “I had the pleasure to take her round the SGRE facility in Hull in 2017. Her passion for all things mechanical and seeing women in an engineering company came over strongly. But her joy in speaking to all my colleagues and especially her humour during our time together was what I remember most.
“God bless the Queen, you were a role model in being a loyal servant, with a smile for all. Thank you. “
The High Sheriff of East Riding, Jacky Bowes, said: “As the first day dawns with a new King, HRH Charles III, we remember with admiration, huge respect and enormous thanks, the dedicated service and devotion to our country, of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Royal Family at this very sad time.”
On the South Bank, the Queen had visited Grimsby Docks in 1958, Scunthorpe’s British Steel twice in 1958 and 1974, and opened the £20 million BOC plant at Stallingborough in 1993.
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