We are all deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Her Majesty The Queen.
On behalf of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, we send our heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family.
Chief Fire Officer Neil Odin said:
“On behalf of all colleagues at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service I express our deepest condolences to the Royal Family following the sad news of the passing of Her Majesty The Queen.
“It’s an incredibly sad time for us all and I pay tribute to the unfaltering commitment she showed to a life dedicated to public service and duty. As our longest-reigning monarch, she was steadfast in her support to our nation.
“Some of my colleagues and former colleagues will have cherished memories of the day the Queen visited us in Eastleigh for the opening of the Hampshire Fire Brigade headquarters, as we were then known.
“Those awarded the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medal, and other jubilee medals from across her reign, will always wear them with pride. On a personal note, I was deeply honoured to have been awarded the Queen’s Fire Service Medal in Her Majesty’s Birthday Honours list in June.
“As the country now unites to mourn, our thoughts and best wishes are with His Majesty King Charles III and the entire Royal Family.”
Please note: At 11am on Saturday (10 September), King Charles III will be proclaimed in London. In line with national protocol, flags on our fire stations will be raised to full mast at this time and then lowered back to half-mast on Sunday afternoon for the remainder of the mourning period.
