It is with great sorrow that we learned of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
We pay tribute to her lifetime of dedicated service.
On behalf of Women in Transport, our deepest condolences are with The Royal Family and her loved ones.
Thank you Ma’am.
A continued tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and statement of activities during national mourning
We continue to hold our Queen close in our hearts as we remember her dedicated lifetime of public service. Queen Elizabeth II, her Majesty, is for so many of us the only Monarch we have ever known. Her tireless work to help others has left a legacy that is unbounded and unique. In her 70 years of service, she touched hearts around the world and was truly a beacon of light for our nation and many others in the Commonwealth and beyond.
Among her many talents, her dedication to transport is of particular note. Before becoming Queen, the then Princess Elizabeth served as a mechanic and a driver during World War 2 assisting in logistics, working and training from the age of just 16. As with many transport skills, this knowledge stayed with her and she was indeed known to identify engine faults herself. As a keen driver she was often seen at the wheel of a Land Rover.
Our Queen used many transport modes to travel the world, including aeroplanes and helicopters, the Royal Yacht Britannia until its decommissioning in 1997 and cars including many custom vehicles. Our Queen was also an independent and keen walker, a young and proficient cyclist and a lifelong equestrian.
Her dedication to public service was unfaltering throughout raising her four children alongside her ‘strength and stay’ the Duke of Edinburgh. This is something many of us can relate to when balancing family with work commitments. In a nod to women’s independence, during her 1966 Christmas address, she said
“In the modern world the opportunities for women to give something of value to the human family are greater than ever, because, through their own efforts, they are now beginning to play their full part in public life.”
During her reign our Queen has opened airports, ports and rail stations, commissioned ships and her last significant but truly incredible visit was to the perfectly entitled Elizabeth Line on the Transport for London Underground Network.
Our activities
At Women in Transport we have carefully considered what would be appropriate during this period of national mourning and reflected on the importance of the work we do. Following the guidance set by Government and ultimately in respect of our Queen:
Our monthly newsletter will be held until after the state funeral
Our social media posts and sharing of further articles or blogs are paused until after the state funeral
Our celebratory anniversary event for our Scotland Regional Hub is postponed (a new date will be announced soon)
We are going to continue two virtual events, firstly our monthly networking which offers a safe space for networking and connection for our members and secondly our financial wellbeing workshop as we know there is much interest in this topic given the cost of living crisis. Both virtual events will begin with a minute of silence and reflection to pay our respects.
Finally…
Transport never stops. Vast but meticulous transport and logistics plans are now being put into place to ensure our farewell to our beloved Queen is a precious one. Some of our members, ambassadors and patrons will be involved in those plans. We support you and thank you for your work.
To our beloved Queen Elizabeth II, thank you for your dedication and legacy.
Rest in Peace.
Marny Moruzzi
Vice President, Women in Transport
Grief takes many forms and is very personal. Please reach out for support if you need to: Support and self-care for grief - Mind