Thought For The Day: Sunday 18th September 2022
Respect
On Sunday 18th September 2022, The National Moment of Reflection to mourn the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and reflect on Queen Elizabeth II’s life and legacy, ahead of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral tomorrow, will take place at 8:00 this evening.
This will be marked by a one-minute silence in homes, communities and places across the country at 8.00 this evening.
On Thursday 2nd June 2022, on the occasion of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, a former student of The Bishop’s Stortford High School, Wing Commander James Sjoberg, commander of the RAF’s front line C-130J Hercules unit 47 squadron, was the lead Hercules pilot in the Jubilee flypast for Queen Elizabeth II. As part of the flypast, Wing Commander Sjoberg flew as Queen Elizabeth II looked above with a wonderfully warm and very appreciative smile.
On Friday 9th September 2022, the morning after the day when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II passed away on Thursday 8th September 2002, a former student of The Bishop’s Stortford High School, Greg James, broadcast his national BBC radio programme. It was beautifully created, wonderfully sensitive, kind, empathetic and inspirational and perfectly respectful: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09hth13
We continue to reflect on the truly unique duty, devotion and selfless service of Queen Elizabeth II:
“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s reign was revolutionary. What was so important to her was service. She used the word over and over again about herself. She would “serve”. She was “Your Servant, Elizabeth R.”. She had this very strong Christian faith and the Christian idea of service, that Jesus came down to serve. That idea that you are anointed, that you are made Queen, you are given this great office of state, and the reason you are given it is to serve, that was incredibly important to the Queen…Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has been both respected and loved.” (Professor Kate Williams)
“The greatest legacy is the legacy of understanding duty. It’s not about me. That sums up almost everything in her life… When I was working in Liverpool, Queen Elizabeth II visited the city. There was a civic lunch. There was someone I knew there who was a survivor of the Rwanda genocide who was a very remarkable young woman. The Queen had asked specially that she be at the Queen’s table. At the end of the meal, the Queen did not move on. She sat talking to this young woman and it was transformative for this young woman. Humanity, sympathy, empathy.” (The Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury)