A CIVIC service will be held in Basingstoke on the eve of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.

St Michael’s Church in Basingstoke is to hold the service in loving memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday, September 18 in the afternoon.

The Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, Cllr Paul Miller, will be hosting the special service.

Residents are welcome to come to the service but, with space in the church limited, free tickets for the event have to be booked on a first come, first served basis.

There will be reflections from local resident Delia Gilham, who was 17 at the time of Queen Elizabeth II ascending to the throne, and Queen Mary’s College students Ffion Timmins and Arran Topham will give a tribute from a younger person’s perspective.

Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane Cllr Paul Miller said: “People in the borough and across the nation have been keen to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and to express how much she meant to them in their own ways, since the announcement of her death last Thursday. With a sense of shared sorrow and deep respect for the Queen and her amazing years of service, we have seen residents of all ages laying floral tributes at the Civic Offices, and many others have made the trip to Windsor or London to do the same.

“This Civic Service on the eve of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral is a way to remember and pay tribute to a remarkable Monarch who has been such a constant in all of our lives.”

Basingstoke MP Maria Miller will read a poem and Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire Lady Portal MBE DL (Louisa) will deliver a reading.

On top of this there will also be hymns and an anthem sung by the St Michael’s and All Saints’ choirs.

St Michael’s Church has a poignant link to the reign of the late Queen as a section of the hangings made for Westminster Abbey for Her Majesty The Queen’s Coronation have been made into an altar fall. This will be on display at the church at the service.

The service will also be live streamed by St Michael’s Church’s live website from 3pm, with a link available on the webpage at basingstoke.gov.uk/HM-Elizabeth-II. 

The Reverend John Hudson, Rector of Basingstoke Church, will lead the service, with Bishop of Basingstoke the Right Reverend David Williams giving the sermon and the blessing. Toju Ogbe of Basingstoke African Caribbean Catholic Association will lead the prayers.

Free tickets are available to book via a link on the website at basingstoke.gov.uk/HM-Elizabeth-II.

Anyone without access to the internet can call 01256 844844.

To ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to get tickets, each booking has been limited to a maximum of six.