BASINGSTOKE fell silent yesterday morning as the Queen Mother was laid to rest.

Many shops closed for the duration of the funeral service which took place at Westminster Abbey.

Those shoppers and staff who were in the town centre, members of the emergency services and other employees across the borough stood in silence for two minutes to pay their last respects to the royal favourite at 11.30am.

Only moments before, the body of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother had been borne by gun carriage to Westminster Abbey, accompanied by the sound of 128 pipers. The music from the Queen Mother's favourite instrument drifted into the abbey where royalty and VIPs had gathered.

Outside, thousands of ordinary people had queued since dawn to pay their last respects.

To the sound of the pipers, and borne on the same gun carriage used for her husband George VI's funeral 50 years ago, the Queen Mother's coffin was first taken to the abbey for a ceremonial funeral service attended by more than 2,000 people.

Later, her body was interred at Windsor, in the George VI Chapel, during a private service for close family members.

On Monday, the night before the funeral, mourners also paid their respects to the Queen Mother at a special mass at the Church of the Holy Ghost in Sherborne Road, Basingstoke. Father Maurice Twomey paid tribute to the Queen Mother's humble and motherly appeal to the public.

"We have come here this evening to mourn, with the Royal Family, the passing of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. She embodied so many of our Christian and national values and inspired us in many ways.

"In a way she was the mother figure for the whole nation - she exemplified the duties of motherhood and public service in a touching and exemplary way. Her passing marks the end of an era so, for us, the new Millennium starts now."

Maureen Fitzpatrick, from Morley Road, said after the service: "I feel quite privileged to come here today and pay my respects. She was a lovely lady who had a long life and brought stability to our country."

Did you make the trip to London to pay your respects to the Queen Mother? If you did, The Gazette would like to hear about your experience of this moving occasion. Call the newsdesk on 01256 337444.