Teddington residents pay touching tribute to mark passing of Queen Elizabeth II
By Eli Haidari
12th Sep 2022 | Local News
Story by Rory Poulter and Eli Haidari
The owners of a house in Teddington have paid tribute to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in truly remarkable fashion.
In 2012, the Teddington residents painted the union flag across the outside of their home to mark the Queen's diamond jubilee, and ten years later, have re-painted their home to mark her passing.
Initially, the owners, Vivienne and Alex Tate, intended it would be a temporary patriotic paint job to celebrate 60 years of the Queen's reign and the London Olympics.
However, the family, including daughter Angharad, decided to keep the design after the home became something of a landmark.
It was spruced up to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee earlier this year, however the Tates thought it appropriate to adopt the colours of mourning following the sad news on Friday.
Vivienne, whose cameraman husband is away filming, was helped by 10 friends and neighbours to transform the design over the weekend.
She told Nub News: "When we first moved in it was the time of the Jubilee and we had a street party that included a decorate your house competition.
"My husband and I decided that the front of the house looked very much like a flag so we decided to go ahead and paint the Union Jack.
"We were a little naïve and didn't quite expect the response. We had an enormous amount of news coverage with TV cameras and contacts from America and Australia.
"The plan was always to paint it back to something more normal, but for one reason or another it just didn't happen. People seemed to like the design and it became known as the Union Jack house.
"We always had a plan that one day, eventually, we change it back.
"The idea was that when, unfortunately, the Queen passes away, as a mark of respect, we would change the design away from red, white and blue to grey, black and white.
"We did that over the weekend. I am incredibly lucky that we have some good neighbours and friends who helped. It was quite a mammoth task.
"It was really nice in terms of people coming together to show such community spirit. We also had a lot of people stopping and asking questions."
Local resident Tim Hughes took a picture of the work while it was in progress and posted a message about it on Twitter.
Vivienne said: "Everyone has said how lovely it is. I am hoping people will like it. At the moment, we plan to keep this until after the Coronation."
She said daughter Angharad is a bit reluctant to switch to a normal paint job to match other properties in the street as it is all she has known.
Vivienne said: "The Queen has been the only monarch I have known. I remember my mum talking to me about the Coronation.
"This is going to have a big impact. It represents a huge change."
Tributes have been made throughout Teddington and across the borough over the weekend. St Mary's with St Albans opened their evening prayer to all on Friday so residents could come and pay their respects. The church bell was rung 96 times in Her Majesty's honour.
A crowd of 200 people also gathered on Sunday afternoon for the formal proclamation of King Charles III outside the Richmond Council offices in Twickenham, where the Richmond Mayor was joined by a representative of the Lord Lieutenant of London, the two local MPs, Sarah Olney and Munira Wilson, along with Council, emergency service and faith leaders.
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