The former Mayor of a Tyne Valley town has been reflecting on the death of Queen Elizabeth II almost a quarter of a century after she welcomed her to Northumberland.
Lorna Garrett was the mayor of Prudhoe when the monarch visited the town in May 1998.
The town was the first stop on a tour of Northumberland that also took in Vindolanda Roman Fort at Bardon Mill, where she saw excavations in progress and was met by the museum's late director, Robin Birley.
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The Queen was received at Newcastle Central Station by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Northumberland (the Viscount Ridley KG). She then visited Prudhoe following work to improve both the town's high school and the East Centre youth service building on Prudhoe Front Street, where crowds of people gathered to catch a glimpse of her.
Whilst visiting the high school, she met head teacher John Baumber before year three and four pupils from nearby Prudhoe West First School's choir sang for the Queen.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Mrs Garrett described her meeting with the Queen following her Majesty's death on Thursday.
She said: "I found the Queen was an absolute delight. She was very generous and so polite to everyone, she greeted everyone in a lovely manner and she was asking all about the town.
"When I reflect on the way she has dedicated her life to her role, it is inspirational because it could not have been better. She just conducted herself in a selfless way and I think there's a lot people could learn from her. She had 70 years of always being on duty.
"So many people were out on Front Street. It was quite strange - it was just our little town, and the Queen was there. It is a lovely memory to have."
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