Town's day of mourning

Quiet descended on the streets of Uckfield on Tuesday when shops closed and businesses observed two minutes silence as a mark of respect for the Queen Mother as her funeral was conducted.

A few cars moved through the town but most shoppers had deserted the streets. Youngsters from the Beacon Community College at Crowborough who were conducting a survey outnumbered candidates for questioning.

The Tesco car park was empty bar a handful of cars and the store was closed, though shelves were still being stocked.

Somerfield was closed, too, between 10.30am and 1pm along with other shops like Boots, Kids Stuff, Blockbuster Videos, Superdrug, Sussex Stationers, Woolworths, Supasnaps, Carouselle, Just for You, Broadbridges, FC Thorpe and Sons and Carvills.

Would-be shopper Mrs Joan Kensey said she was angry to find the shops closed and didn't think it was appropriate. She planned to take refuge at Corbin's for a coffee and then go home without her shopping.

Her friend Mrs Tessa Crompton was also annoyed because she was moving house and she didn't have time for extra trips into town. 'The Queen Mother had a kind life, it wasn't hard, she lived to a ripe old age and appeared to be a nice old lady but I don't think this is appropriate.'

Old soldier

On the other hand old soldier Monty McKenzie-Walters, in town earlier in the day, was proud to wear his service medals and beret bearing the badge of the Royal Artillery as a mark of respect for the Queen Mother.

The 81-year-old was emotional as he remembered her walking through London's bombed streets during World War II when he was manning anti-aircraft weapons. 'I never spoke to her but I wasn't far from her and I can see her now with the King. She had a beautiful smile. She did a lot in her life and brought out the best in people.'

The flag outside the Civic Centre was at half mast and two minutes silence was observed in the building as the Queen Mother's funeral started at 11.30am. A television was available in Luxfords Restaurant for customers and staff to watch the service.

Special assemblies were held in at Manor, Rocks Park and Little Horsted primary schools; children from St Philip's Catholic Primary School attended a memorial service at the church next door. Two minutes silence was observed at the Uckfield Community College and Holy Cross schools and televisions were made available for children to watch the proceedings.

Headteacher at Harlands Mrs Jan Spry-Shute said the school had been encouraging children to celebrate the Queen Mother's life while recognising the sadness and solemnity of the occasion.

All the children assembled in the hall to watch the funeral and a table was set up with a picture of the Queen Mother, some roses and three candles burning as a focus to help the children feel a part of it and give them a sense of the occasion.

Rector at Holy Cross Church the Rev Brian Wilcox said a service of remembrance had been held there on Sunday and a requiem had been held for her the previous week.