Tribute from Chairman Nicol Horrell

Statement from Chairman Nicol Horrell.

It is with sadness we mourn the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

She was well-known for her wisdom, warmth and grace. The Queen has been a beacon of stability in a rapidly changing world and her unwavering service to Britain, the Commonwealth, and indeed, the world was a model for us all. Our thoughts are with her family at this time.

I was born the year of the Queen’s coronation, so she has always been there in my life. I know many Southlanders will be feeling her loss and that some of you will have had personal encounters with her, too.

The Queen visited New Zealand 10 times on royal tours, her first in 1953-54 where she toured through Southland and departed from Bluff, and her last in 2002.

It’s a sad time, but also a time to reflect on an amazing woman and a life well lived.