The Town of Cobourg along with Cobourg Legion Branch 133 held a memorial service for Queen Elizabeth II on Monday, September 19, 2022.
The ceremony took place at the cenotaph in Victoria Park at 10:45 a.m. The service was lead by Padre Art King.
A number of dignitaries including Cobourg Mayor John Henderson, numerous councillors, fire and police officials were in attendance.
The Cobourg Legion Pipes and Drums paraded to the cenotaph, marching by the floral clock that was done in commemoration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Valerie Taylor was one of the people in attendance and said she has fond memories when she used to work at Buckingham Palace when she was 17-years-old in 1959.
Taylor worked on the switchboard for phone lines that was called the Royal Board which had a Crown above it.
If the Queen called Balmoral to speak to her mother or Parliament the board would light up.
Taylor would patch through the call by connecting the wires, would only listen for a few seconds to make sure the two parties were connected.
Taylor only met the Queen once in person, but will forever remember their brief chat.
“She was the most polite, lovely lady.’
The Queen thanked Taylor for her service and Taylor replied, “thank you Mum.”
“I was almost in tears.”
Taylor said, “it was absolutely wonderful to see so many people turn out to giver her a send off,” in Cobourg.
At the end of the ceremony, people were invited to place Poppies on the cenotaph that were brought by the Legion.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
