Bury town centre fell to a near silence yesterday, Monday, as the funeral for Queen Elizabeth II took place in London.

Residents steered clear from a very sombre and quiet town centre as most high street businesses shut their doors for the bank holiday.

Bury Times: Bury town centre was quiet for the Queens funeral Bury town centre was quiet for the Queens funeral (Image: Harriet Heywood)

A number of pubs in the centre opened their doors slightly earlier for those wishing to watch the funeral.

Bury Times: Silence notice at the Robert Peel Silence notice at the Robert Peel (Image: Harriet Heywood)

Sky Bar, The Robert Peel and The Two Tubs were just three of the main pubs that opened early to those paying their respects.

Bury Times: The Two Tubs, Bury The Two Tubs, Bury (Image: Harriet Heywood)

At almost 400-years old, The Two Tubs at The Wylde has seen around 20 monarchs take the throne and has now paid tribute to the longest reigning of these.

Bury Times: A military veteran of 24 years, Steven Lafferty, 61A military veteran of 24 years, Steven Lafferty, 61 (Image: Harriet Heywood)

A military veteran of 24 years, Steven Lafferty, 61, had been at the funeral of a comrade earlier in the morning and came into the pub to catch the last bit of live footage from his "boss's" funeral.

He said: “She was my boss for 24 years, that's whom we served, so it's very sombre to sit and watch it… it's a sad day, a very sad day.”

One pub-goer, who came from Salford, said: "It made me think a lot about the changes in society, I think that's the last time we will see that sort of pomp and pageantry because the world is changing so quickly. 

Bury Times: Two Tubs pub goer, Bob from SalfordTwo Tubs pub goer, Bob from Salford (Image: Harriet Heywood)

"There isn't much time for that kind of thing anymore, it makes you think what's been, what's gone, and what is now to come." 

Inside the pub, although quiet, it was a monumental moment, one that royalists and those who are not, appreciated the enormity of.   

Assistant manager at The Two Tubs, Sam Hutchinson, 32, said he wouldn’t call himself a royalist but believes it was a very important occasion.

Bury Times: Assistant manager at Two Tubs, Sam Hutchinson, 32,Assistant manager at Two Tubs, Sam Hutchinson, 32, (Image: Harriet Heywood)

He said: “It's definitely something that we needed to do because we have lots of proud military connections and our owner has many years of active service under his belt, so we wanted to honour this.

“The mood has been pretty sombre, but we had a lot of soldiers in yesterday (Sunday) after a short service at the parish church across the road.

“The mood wasn't so sombre then, it felt a bit more like awake even though it was before the state funeral.

“I wouldn't say that I myself I'm a royalist, but I do think it's so important to honour everyone's beliefs and opinions and to witness this occasion.”

The pub served up sausage or bacon butties as well as hot drinks for anyone coming in to watch the funeral.

Shops across the borough showed respect with many placing tributes to the Queen in window displays.

Bury Times: Flowers left at the Bury Parish Church memorialFlowers left at the Bury Parish Church memorial (Image: Harriet Heywood)

Flowers have also been left at the Bury Parish Church memorial and at the Kay Gardens memorial.

Bury Times: Inside VUE Cinema Bury, as the Queens funeral was shown Inside VUE Cinema Bury, as the Queens funeral was shown (Image: Harriet Heywood)

VUE cinema in Bury sold out of tickets before the funeral as they offered seats to those who wanted to watch the big screen for free. 

No refreshments were on offer. 

Bury Times: Bury town centre was quiet for the Queens funeral Bury town centre was quiet for the Queens funeral (Image: Harriet Heywood)

 

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