Blue light services hold parade for Duke
GUERNSEY’S three blue light services held a parade to mark the minute’s silence in memory of Prince Philip on Saturday.
It coincided with the funeral of the prince, who died on 9 April at Windsor Castle just two months’ before his 100th birthday, and took place in the courtyard at the island’s Fire Station on Arsenal Road.
Guernsey Fire & Rescue, Guernsey Police and the emergency ambulance service all stood to attention for the minute’s silence at 3pm on the day, and it was observed by several staff from each of the services.
Chief fire officer Jon Le Page said: ‘The Duke has had a very full life and has meant a great deal to many people.
‘The Duke of Edinburgh’s award scheme is something that we’ve supported for a long time now, and we felt it was fitting that we should mark our respects to him and invite our other blue light colleagues to join us today to show their respects as well.’
Chief of Law Enforcement Ruari Hardy said while many officers and staff were still committed to working during Saturday’s funeral, they wanted to represent the blue light services on behalf of the organisations on this poignant occasion.
‘Both the Guernsey Border Agency and the police are joining our other emergency services colleagues to honour and join the rest of the nation in the one minute’s silence for Prince Philip to show the respect we have for him and his service to the country,’ he said.
‘Guernsey is very fortunate to have emergency services who on a daily basis work closely together and it’s appropriate that we mark this occasion by coming together.’
Chief ambulance officer, Mark Mapp added: ‘Today is about, as a Guernsey community, remembering Prince Philip and for us to be a part of that.
‘Prince Philip was a supporter of the emergency services and particularly St John, and we want to pay our respects to him for all that he did and also to Her Majesty The Queen.’
In the UK, gun salutes were fired from the Tower of London before and after the funeral, with some people marking the moment by standing in silence outside Buckingham Palace.
Throughout Guernsey, work and activities stopped as islanders paid their own respects to Prince Philip.
Many watched the funeral at home, while others listened to the service on the radio as Prince Philip’s coffin was taken from the state entrance of Windsor Castle to his resting place at St George’s Chapel.
Representatives from every island scout group met on Saturday to pay their respects.
In addition, crew on the HMS Westminster, which was anchored in the Little Russel, stood on the warship’s heli-deck to show their respect.
Just as Union flags flew at half-mast across the island, on the warship both the White Ensign and Union flag flew at half-mast.
More flags were flown at half-mast across the world, while countries part of the Commonwealth, such as Canada and New Zealand, halted normal TV broadcasts to mark the funeral.
