See Douglas Lumsden MSP's tribute to her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth below.
Thank you Presiding officer,
I listened to the First Minister last week describing the first time that she caught glimpse of the Queen and I must admit one of my earliest memories I have of seeing the Queen was in very similar circumstances.
I was just 5 years old when the Queen was touring the country as part of her silver jubilee celebrations in 1977. We stayed across from Woodhill house in Aberdeen, and the queen was set to visit and officially open the home of the old Grampian Regional council. I was allowed to go and watch the queen come out and drive off in her big car.
I was young, I didn’t understand much at that age but I did understand that this was special, and the Queen was special.
As a five year old you took days like that for granted but thinking back I was lucky, most people would never even see the Queen.
But as a wee 5 year old I had, and I would go on to see the Queen on a number of other occasions, the opening of the new rooftop garden at Aberdeen royal Infirmary, the opening ceremony of the 6th session of this Parliament amongst others.
Each time I was a little bit older but Her Majesty seemed a constant.
Always smiling, always speaking to people, always waving, always serving.
And it is that public service that is so remarkable. 70 years as Queen but a lifetime of service that we should all respect.
The Queen spent so much time at Balmoral it was clear that the Queen had a deep admiration for Scotland and I was proud to see the crowds give her Majesty one last send off as she was driven from Balmoral through the North East down to Edinburgh.
Presiding Officer,
Like millions others I was glued to the TV yesterday as the nation said one final farewell to Her Majesty and one part of the ceremony struck me like no other.
It was at St Georges Chapel when the Imperial crown, orb and sceptre were removed from the Queen for the last time in her 70 year reign.
For me it was so special because My Grandfather, Thomas Shaw, was on ceremonial duties when the Queen was coronated and given these items for the very first time. Queen Elizabeth’s reign was a link to so many people we have loved and lost over the years.
She wasn’t just the queen for the 67 million of the population that we have in this country at present and the many millions more across the commonwealth, but for the millions of loved ones that have come and gone before us. For me she was my Queen, a constant and a servant to our United Kingdom that connection has now gone but the memories will remain.
Thank you.
