Books of condolence have been opened in all 10 boroughs across Greater Manchester following the death of the Queen. Flags have also been lowered to half-mast at town halls and civic buildings city-region-wide and bells are due to toll for an hour starting at 12noon across the UK.
Council bosses were today hastily making arrangements in the wake of the shock announcement of Her Majesty's passing just 48 hours after appointing new prime minister Liz Truss. In Salford, people can leave their own tributes in condolence books at official points at Salford Civic Centre, Swinton, Swinton Gateway, Broughton Hub, Eccles Gateway, Pendleton Gateway, Walkden Gateway, Irlam Recreation Centre, St Peter's Church Swinton, and the University of Salford.
Trafford residents wishing to pay their respects can place flowers at Trafford Town Hall as a mark of respect and can do so in a special reserved area at the sunken gardens adjacent to the town hall. The council's official books of condolence can be signed at Trafford Town Hall, Altrincham Town Hall, and Sale Waterside.
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In Rochdale, books of condolence are being opened at Number One Riverside in Rochdale, Middleton Arena, Heywood Phoenix Centre and Littleborough Library. A minute's silence was held at the town's council meeting last night as news of the Queen's sad passing reached members of the committee.
Councillor Billy Sheerin broke the news to Rochdale's planning committee while proceedings were already under way. His request for a minute's silence was supported by all members and granted by chair Coun Shakil Ahmed.
The immediate tribute was impeccably observed and Coun Sheerin said a short prayer at its conclusion. Councillors agreed to continue, but Coun Lee Wolf was given permission to leave the meeting after stating he did not wish to continue in the sad circumstances.
Meanwhile, Stockport Town Hall will be lit up purple and the flag flown at half-mast and officials are signposting residents to a national e-book of condolence, available on the Royal website (www.royal.uk).Councillors have also decided to name Stockport's new £14.5m library and 'discovery centre' in honour of the Queen.
The hub, at Merseyway shopping centre was provisionally titled 'Stockroom' by town hall bosses. However, the council passed a motion in March to rename it The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Library and Discovery Centre as a 'lasting and fitting tribute' to the monarch's long reign.
A book of condolence is also open for people to sign at the town hall. It will be available between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. Anyone who has queries, or needs support with signing the book, is advised to email the Democratic Services Team at secretariat@stockport.gov.uk
Officials are also signposting residents to a national e-book of condolence, available on the Royal website (www.royal.uk). From 2.45pm on Friday, a memorial garden will be in place at St Peter's Square. The Mayor will lay flowers as a mark of respect for the Queen.
The memorial garden will be in place during the national mourning period, which will finish following the Queen's funeral. Those who plan to leave flowers at the memorial garden, are asked to remove any cellophane and place disposable wrappings in the bins provided.
A link to the Buckingham Palace e-book of condolence is available on the council’s website. In Bolton and Bury, union flags on civic buildings are to be flown at half-mast until 8am on the morning following the state funeral.
Books of condolence are being opened at Bolton and Bury town halls and other civic buildings including at other towns and villages in the two boroughs. The books of condolence will be closed at the end of the following day of the funeral.
They will then be placed in an archive and a letter written to Buckingham Palace informing them of the location of the books. A civic service of remembrance is to be arranged at Bolton Parish Church to bring local people together on the eve of the funeral. An area where the public can lay flowers is also to be opened at the flagpole of the church.
There will be a two-minute silence at 11am on the day of the funeral led by the mayor Councillor Akhtar Zaman outside Bolton Town Hall. In Bury, an area where the public can lay flowers in tribute to the Queen will be opened at a location likely to be either Kay Gardens or Whitehead Gardens.
The mayor of Bury Coun Shaheena Haroon will lead a two-minute silence at 11am on the day of the funeral. A civic service of remembrance is also being arranged to bring Bury residents together before the state funeral.
In Oldham, the mayor Coun Elaine Garry will be reading out the Proclamation of the new King in Oldham town centre on the afternoon of Sunday, September 11, with members of the public welcome to attend. Books of Condolence are now available to sign at Oldham Civic Centre, Trinity Methodist Church in Royton, Chadderton Town Hall, Failsworth Library, Shaw Library, Lees Library, Oldham Parish Church and St Chad’s in Uppermill.
People are also invited to lay floral tributes at the Civic Centre, Trinity Methodist Church in Royton, Chadderton Town Hall, Failsworth Pole and St Chad's in Uppermill. Elsewhere, in Tameside books of condolence are being opened at the following locations: Ashton: Ashton Library at Tameside One; Audenshaw: Ryecroft Hall; Denton Library; Droylsden Library; Dukinfield Town Hall; Hattersley Library; Hyde Library; Mossley - George Lawton Hall Library and Stalybridge Library.
Floral tributes can be laid outside the front of Dukinfield Town Hall, Hyde Town Hall, Denton Town Hall (Jubilee Square outside the library); Stalybridge Civic Hall and Tameside One (outside the library).
The city of Manchester will also be observing the official 10-day mourning period with more details yet to be confirmed. The flag at the Central Library has been lowered to half-fast and will be in place up to 8am on the day of the state funeral.
Books of condolence are now open at the Reading Room of the Central Library which will be open to visitors from 9am to 6pm from Monday to Sunday until the day following the funeral. Flowers can be laid at St Ann's Square. Council bosses have asked for anyone laying floral tributes to remove any plastic/cellophane wrappings and anything that is non-biodegradable.
In Wigan, mayor Coun Marie Morgan said flags will be lowered to half-mast on all its public buildings and books of condolence would be made available "across the borough".
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