Businesses closed and Essex residents stood in silence today as the county paid its last respects to the Queen Mother.

You can read a short round-up of events across the county below, or see today's Evening Gazette and Evening Echo - which has published a special Queen Mother's Funeral edition - for more details.

CASTLE POINT

Staff at Castle Point Council held a minute's silence at 11am as a mark of respect.

A TV screen was placed in the atrium reception of the council offices, in Kiln Road, Thundersley, and another screen in the emergency centre where members of the public could watch the proceedings.

Mayor Liz Brett laid a wreath yesterday at the foot of a flagpole outside the council offices.

CHELMSFORD

In Chelmsford, Essex's county town, the High Street was a shadow of its usual lively self, with a subdued atmosphere among the few shoppers.

More than half the shops were closed for varying periods between 10.30am and 1pm as a mark of respect. Others stayed open but had notices informing customers they would be observing a two-minute silence.

A memorial service for the Queen Mother was held yesterday at Chelmsford Cathedral. You can find more on this story on a second article in our Local News section.

COLCHESTER

Colchester came to a standstill today as people honoured the Queen Mother with two minutes of silence.

Many stores in the town closed and those that remained open stopped trading to observe the silence at 11.30am. Hundreds of people stopped before returning to their daily lives.

Mayor Mike Hogg led civic leaders in the silence from the steps of the Town Hall at 11.30am. Traffic was prevented by police from travelling down the High Street for two minutes.

A letter was sent home with pupils at Colchester County High School for Girls giving them permission to stay at home and watch the funeral or travel up to London to line the route of the procession if they wanted to.

Those in school were due to mark the two minute's silence and have a special assembly, as were pupils at Thurstable in Tiptree, the Gilberd, Colchester Royal Grammar, and Colchester Sixth Form College.

SOUTHEND

Southend today fell silent in a united show of respect as the Queen Mother began her final journey to her resting place alongside her beloved husband King George VI.

A Southend school shut for the day, shops were closed and workers observed a two-minute silence to celebrate the life of the royal grandmother.

It came after the Queen thanked the nation for the "love and honour'' shown to her mother in life and death.

Pupils at Southend High School for Girls in Southchurch Boulevard, Southend, were told to stay at home today to watch the historic ceremony at Wesminster Abbey on the television or travel to London.

Councils and businesses across south Essex also stood in silent tribute to the Queen Mother's memory. Southend mayor Howard Briggs led two minutes' silence at the Civic Centre in Victoria Avenue at 11.30am.

Published Tuesday, April 9, 2002