The city of Salford came together to mourn her loss, with services held to mark her passing and books of condolence opened for people to pay their own tributes to our Monarch.
SALFORD REMEMBERS HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II
On 8 September 2022, British life as we know it came to an end following the death of Queen Elizabeth II after a 70-year reign.
As the UK’s longest serving monarch, many of us will never have known life without our Queen, who came to the throne in 1952.
Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said:
“The Queen was a much loved and highly regarded Monarch, and we had the pleasure of her visiting the city on a number of happy occasions.
“As our Monarch, the Queen demonstrated her devotion to a life of service to the country and it is fitting that we come together to honour her.”
Queen Elizabeth II was no stranger to Salford and had visited the city several times throughout her reign, most recently in 2021 when she visited the ITV studios and the set of long-running soap Coronation Street at MediaCityUK.
The Queen and her late husband the Duke of Edinburgh were also in Salford in 2012 as part of her Diamond Jubilee Tour to mark 60 years on the throne, when Prince Philip opened Salford University’s MediaCityUK campus.
The Queen greets well-wishers at MediaCityUK in 2012. Photo courtesy of Salford Local History Library.
Her Majesty’s connection to Salford can be traced back to the very early days of her reign when Salford artist L.S Lowry was appointed as one of the official artists of Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation in 1953, which resulted in his classic work ‘The Procession passing the Queen Victoria Memorial’.
She also officially opened The Lowry in 2000 when she spoke to local schoolchildren who created an exhibition of their photographs about life in Salford.
Salford also enjoyed Royal visits in 1954 when crowds gathered at Peel Park to see The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, and in 1961, she also visited Worsley, as part of another Royal tour of the region.
The Queen is succeeded by her eldest son King Charles III, who also has strong connections to Salford, famously visiting the iconic Salford Lads Club in 2010, which is in the heart of one of Salix Homes’ estates in Ordsall.
The Royal visit to Salford in 1954. Photo courtesy of Salford Local History Library.
Queen Elizabeth II visited Peel Park in 1954. Photo courtesy of Salford Local History Library.
The Queen is greeted by the Mayor of Salford Alderman Margaret Whitehead in 1961. Photo courtesy of Salford Local History Library.