Her Majesty The Queen: National period of mourning

Update issued to all colleagues by Professor Parveen Yaqoob, Deputy-Vice-Chancellor, University of Reading

Following yesterday’s sad news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, His Majesty King Charles III has officially declared a national period of mourning. Professor Elizabeth McCrum led a discussion with colleagues this morning to consider and plan University arrangements for the coming days.

Further to yesterday’s statement, we will be writing to King Charles to share our condolences with the Royal Family on behalf of the whole University community at this time of great national sadness. A book of condolence is now available in the Library foyer on our Whiteknights campus where members of our community can leave messages. Books will also be available in the London Road reception and in the Greenlands foyer from later this afternoon. These books will remain open until 5pm on the day following the State Funeral. Our Students’ Union will also be hosting its own book of condolence in the RUSU reception. A national book of condolence can be signed online on The Royal Family website.

Reading Borough Council has opened an area for floral tributes at Reading Town Hall. The University will be laying some flowers at the Town Hall and we would encourage any colleagues who would like to make their own floral tribute to do so there.

There will be many events of remembrance in the coming days, nationally and locally, and the University will hold our commemorations at our Whiteknights, London Road and Greenlands campuses on Monday 12 September at 10.30am – if you wish to attend, please arrive by 10.20am:

• Whiteknights: at the flagpole at the rear of Whiteknights House
• London Road: at the Clocktower Peace Garden
• Greenlands: at the flagpole near the entrance gate.

A two-minute silence will then be observed at 11am.

This is a busy time for the University, as we approach the start of the academic year. Elizabeth will be working with colleagues to review upcoming activities, and consider where it would be appropriate to scale back or adjust activity, while allowing critical activity like enrolment to continue as required. She will write to you on Monday with further information, based on expected government announcements about the timing of national activities. These arrangements will also be shared with new and returning students.

In the meantime, the University remains open and our work continues. Events and activities can continue as planned, but you may wish to reschedule or adjust plans for any activities in the coming days that you consider might be inappropriate and not in keeping with this national period of mourning.

If you have any questions, please feel free to send these to communications@reading.ac.uk in the first instance.

Professor Parveen Yaqoob
Deputy-Vice-Chancellor, University of Reading