Moving messages and flowers are among the ways the North East has been paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II in the days following her death.
Her Majesty, who was Britain's longest-reigning monarch, passed away on Thursday, September 8, aged 96. People in the North East have been paying their respects at memorial sites across the region.
At Newcastle Civic Centre floral tributes have been arriving since the news of the late Queen's passing on Thursday. Tributes placed at the site included a message from Girlguiding Central Division, which read: "Thank you Ma'am for your service from all in Central Division. 'The lives of millions of girls and women around the world have been influenced by the Girl Guide movement' - HM Queen Elizabeth II. Our Patron from 1952."
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Another read: "You will always be remembered. Thank you for your dedication. Rest in peace."
At Ridley Park Cenotaph, in Blyth, Northumberland, one tribute included a bunch of sunflowers with a wrapped-up marmalade sandwich attached, along with a message which read: "Although he was just a little bear, and she a regal Queen, watching her take that sandwich out her bag was the best thing he had seen xxx
"RIP your Majesty."
As well as floral tributes, many people have chosen to sign a book of condolence in the late Queen's memory. Books of condolence have been made available for the public to sign in Newcastle, Sunderland, Northumberland, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and County Durham.
At Durham Cathedral long queues have been seen as people wait to sign the book of condolence. Candles were also lit inside the cathedral in memory of Her Majesty, while outside a Union Flag was flown at half mast.
There are still many ways in which the North East can pay their respects to the Queen. This list details locations across the region where people can lay floral tributes or sign a book of condolence.
This is where you can leave flowers for Queen Elizabeth II in our region:
Newcastle
As a mark of respect, Civic flags are being flown at half-mast and books of condolence will be opened at the City Library and at the Civic Centre. Floral tributes can also be left on Ceremonial Way at the Civic Centre.
Gateshead
In Gateshead, tributes are encourage at Saltwell Park's Field of Remembrance during the park's opening hours.
North Tyneside
There are a range of locations in North Tyneside where you can lay flowers. These include:
- The foot of the Union flag at the Quadrant building - the council's central office - Cobalt Business Park
- The bandstand in Wallsend's Richardson Dees Park
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the foot of the Tommy memorial in the circular planted area at the Spanish City Dome, Whitley Bay
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Northumberland Park bandstand
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The Post-1945 War Memorial at the White Swan Centre in Killingworth.
South Tyneside
In South Tyneside, flowers can also be left by the Queen Victoria statue outside South Shields Town Hall.
Northumberland
Across the county of Northumberland there are a range of locations to leave flowers. These include most of the major towns - such as Alnwick, Morpeth and Hexham. The link here will continue to be updated by the county council, which has invited well-wishers to lay flowers as a mark of respect.
Sunderland
In Sunderland, the policy is that flowers should be laid at Mowbray Park bandstand in Sunderland city centre. Flowers will be left in place until the day following the end of the mourning period. Flowers will be checked daily and any wilting and dead flowers removed.
County Durham
Floral tributes can also be left at Chester-le-Street Market Place, Bishop Auckland Town Hall, Millennium Place in Durham City, at the front of Crook Civic Centre, Consett War Memorial and outside The Witham at Barnard Castle.
This is where you can sign books of condolence for the Queen:
Newcastle
There are two books of condolence in Newcastle. One can be signed in the Civic Centre. That is open between 9.30am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.
A second will open at the City Library in New Bridge Street West. You can sign that between 8.45am and 4pm on Saturday, or 7.45am to 5pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; or 7.45pm to 7pm on Tuesday and Thursday.
Gateshead
Books of Condolence that members of the public can sign will be located at locations across Gateshead from Friday September 9.
- Gateshead Civic Centre - 9am - 5pm
- Leam Lane Sure Start - 9am - 5pm
- Birtley Library - 9am - 5pm
- St Mary's Heritage Centre - 10am - 4pm Tuesday - Friday, 10am - 1pm Saturdays
- Blaydon Leisure Centre - 9am - 5pm Monday- Friday and 10 - 4pm Saturday and Sunday
- Whickham Library - 9am - 5pm Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and 9am - 1pm Wednesday and Saturday
- Saltwell Towers - 9am until 3pm, Monday to Sunday
Northumberland
There are condolence books to sign in Alnwick, Ashington, Bedlington, Berwick, Blyth, Hexham, Ponteland and Morpeth. Sites include leisure centres and libraries within those towns, as well as County Hall in Morpeth. Opening hours vary, but in general they are all open between 9am and 4pm, with later opening for the leisure centre sites.
A full list, which will be updated, is available to view here.
North Tyneside
Public books of condolence are sited in various Council buildings and are available during normal open hours as follows:
- Quadrant, The Silverlink North, Cobalt Business Park - Monday – Friday 7am until 8pm
- North Shields Customer First Centre, Northumberland Square - Monday and Friday 9am – 5.30pm, Saturday 9am – 1pm
- Wallsend Customer First Centre, 16 The Forum -Wallsend Monday – Friday 9am – 5.30pm, Saturday 9am – 1pm
- Whitley Bay Customer First Centre, York Road, Whitley Bay - Monday – Friday 9am – 5.30pm, Saturday 9am – 1pm
- White Swan Centre, Citadel East, Killingworth-Monday – Friday 9am – 5.30pm, Saturday 9am – 1pm
South Tyneside
The books are now available for people to sign every day at:
- South Shields Town Hall between 8.30am and 7pm;
- Jarrow Town Hall between 8.30am and 7pm;
- Hebburn Central during normal opening hours;
- The Word in South Shields during normal opening hours.
County Durham
Condolence books can be signed at the following locations.
- Barnard Castle Customer Access Point and Library (10am to 5pm, Monday to Wednesday and 10am to 4.30pm, Friday)
- Bishop Auckland Town Hall (10am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday)
- Chester-le-Street Library (10am to 7pm, Monday and Thursday, 10am to 6pm Tuesday, 10am to 5pm Friday and 9.30am to 12.30pm Saturday)
- Consett Leisure Centre (7am to 9pm, Monday to Friday and 7am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday)
- Crook Civic Centre (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday)
- Gala Durham (10am to 10pm, Monday to Sunday)
- Newton Aycliffe Library and Leisure Centre (7am to 9pm, Monday to Sunday)
- Peterlee Library (10am to 7pm, Monday and Tuesday, 10am to 6pm Thursday, 10am to 5pm Friday and 9.30am to 12.30pm Saturday)
- Seaham Customer Access Point (9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 4.30pm Friday)
- Spennymoor Leisure Centre (7am to 9pm, Monday to Friday and 7am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday)
- The Louisa Centre, Stanley (7am to 9pm, Monday to Sunday and 7am to 5.30pm Saturday and Sunday)
- The Dales Centre, Stanhope (10am to 5pm, Monday to Sunday)
Sunderland
Books of condolence have been opened at City Hall, Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens, Washington Town Centre Library, The Hetton Centre and Houghton Library and Sunderland Minster will be available for people to sign during each venue's standard opening hours.
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