Rochdale observes two minutes' silence for late Duke of Edinburgh

A two minutes’ silence was observed at the Rochdale Cenotaph for The Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral on Saturday (17 April).

The silence was observed at the cenotaph by Mayor Billy Sheerin; Deputy Mayor Aasim Rashid; Steve Rumbelow, chief executive of the council; leader of the council Allen Brett; leader of the Rochdale Conservatives Councillor Ashley Dearnley; Deputy Lieutenant Ian Sandiford; and a representative for Greater Manchester Police.

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, died on 9 April at the age of 99, and was laid to rest on Saturday. There was a national one minute silence at 3pm on Saturday 17 April.

Flags outside civic buildings in the Rochdale borough were lowered to half-mast and local dignitaries paid tribute following the Duke’s death.
 

Read more: Tributes paid to Duke of Edinburgh, Prince PhilipPublished: 09 April 2021

A special commemoration service for Prince Philip was held at Rochdale Parish Church on Friday (16 April).

Bishop of Middleton Mark Davies and Gill Barnett, the Dean of Rochdale, officiated with a reading also given by Fr Michael Johannett, the mayor’s chaplain.

Deputy Lieutenant Ian Sandiford was in attendance, representing the Queen.

The service opened with a choir singing "All My Hope on God is Founded”, which was sung on the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh’s visit to St Chad’s in 1994, marking 800 years that a church was founded on the site.

Prayers were read before the Mayor Billy Sheerin gave a speech, sharing his own fond memories of the Royal Family.

 

 

He said: “During this last week we all have learnt about many things Prince Philip did to support the Queen during her long reign. It has been very obvious that he was a pillar of strength behind her and their love for each other came across time after time. They had a very special loving relationship.

“When we think of the Queen we always see her with Prince Philip by her side or may be standing just slightly behind her. When we see her tomorrow in St George’s Chapel sat alone, the nation will  grieve and feel her sadness.

“She has lost the love of her life, her stalwart, their children have lost their beloved father and the nation has lost a man who gave his life in supporting his wife, who is the most respected and loved Head of State this country has ever seen.

“May God together with our love and prayers; bless him and keep him safe forever.”

Blessings were made before the National Anthem and "Now thank we all our God" closed the service.

The service was socially distanced and limited to 75 due to coronavirus rules.

 

 

Prince Philip was born on the Greek island of Corfu on 10 June 1921 to Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark, and Princess Alice, a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria.

He married Princess Elizabeth in 1947, five years before she would become Queen.

Together they had four children, eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Their first son, the Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, was born in 1948, followed by his sister, the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, in 1950.

Their second son, the Duke of York, Prince Andrew, was born in 1960 and their last child, the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward, in 1964.