The former Sheriff of Nottingham and a previous leader of Nottingham City Council have recalled their meetings with the “charming” Queen Elizabeth II on visits she made to the city.

Her Majesty visited Nottingham on several occasions during her 70-year, record-breaking reign, including 10 years ago for her Diamond Jubilee.

The late Sovereign also visited Nottingham in March 1997 on the centenary of its obtaining of city status, as well as on numerous other occasions both during her reign and before becoming Queen.

And after Nottingham City Council met in its first official council meeting since her death on Thursday (September 8), two former senior figures at the authority recalled her “wit” and “charm” on visits to the city.

Councillor Graham Chapman (Lab), a former leader and deputy leader of the council, spoke with Her Majesty for an hour when she visited Nottingham for its centenary celebrations 25 years ago.

He recalls speaking about taxes, technology issues aboard the Royal Britannia Yacht in Edinburgh and elderly care, describing her as an “extraordinary human being”.

Cllr Chapman, who represents Aspley said: “We had a very interesting discussion.

“I was expecting to talk to her about corgis and the weather but we were discussing elderly care.

“We had a very pleasant hour and I thought she was an extraordinary human being, it was both charming and impressive and left a long impression on me. It certainly reinforced my view of how important the constitutional monarchy is.

“I was very sad [at her death] but for somebody [of that age] there was an inevitability about it. I was rather hoping she would reach her own centenary so she could send herself a telegram.

“She was very charming and very pleasant.”

Cllr Merlita Bryan (Lab), who represents Hyson Green and Arboretum, was the Sheriff of Nottingham in 2012-13 when The Queen visited the city for the Diamond Jubilee a decade ago.

She was invited to Buckingham Palace on two occasions, first with her daughter at the end of her term as Sheriff in 2013 and again five years ago for a separate event.

Wearing the same dress she wore when she met The Queen, Cllr Bryan said: “Meeting her was quite nerve-racking, thinking about what to say to her.

“The chain gave away that I was the Sheriff of Nottingham and she shook my hand to say well done.

“At the end of my term, myself and my daughter were invited to Buckingham Palace and we really enjoyed that. In 2017, I got another invitation because she was hosting people from all walks of life and I met her again then.

“She asked me about Nottingham again and it was surreal to know I was in her home.

“She was very nice, very quiet, she reminded me of my own mother, she was a very pleasant lady.

“I was very, very sad when I learnt of her passing, we didn’t think she was that bad but when I heard she had passed away it was really sad.”

Other councillors paid tribute to Her Majesty during a slimmed-down agenda at Monday’s full council meeting.

It included tributes from Cllr David Mellen (Lab), the current leader of the authority, as well as opposition leaders Cllr Kevin Clarke (Nottm Ind) and Cllr Andrew Rule (Con) and the current Lord Mayor Cllr Wendy Smith (Lab).

The meeting followed a proclamation event for King Charles III on Sunday (September 11), which saw residents and city dignitaries attend outside the Council House, in Old Market Square, to recognise His Majesty as Monarch.

The Queen’s coffin is currently lying in state in Scotland and will be transported back to London this week ahead of her funeral on Monday, September 19.

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