Deaf charities and organisations pay tribute to the Queen

Deaf organisations have paid their respects to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who died at Balmoral in Scotland today at the age of 96.

A statement on the health of the monarch was issued this afternoon, when Buckingham Palace said her doctors were “concerned for Her Majesty’s health” and recommended she “remain under medical supervision”.

Members of the Royal Family rushed to be by her side at her Scottish residence, before news of her passing was confirmed at 6:30pm this evening.

A statement from the Palace read: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.

“The King and The Queen Consort [Charles and Camilla] will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.

Following the news, organisations representing the Deaf community have shared their memories of Her Majesty.

The Royal National Institute for Deaf people (RNID), of whom the late Duke of Edinburgh was a royal patron, said The Queen has “been a figure of constancy, dignity and reassurance”.

Mark Atkinson, the charity’s chief executive, added: “Her Majesty was a tireless champion of the charity sector over the 70 years of her reign; a true example of service and duty, and an inspiration to millions in our communities and wider.

“Our thoughts are with the Royal family at this deeply personal time of grief and reflection.”

Deafinitely Theatre tweeted: “Deafinitely Theatre are very sad to hear the news of her Majesty the Queen passing. Although we are grateful to look back at her legacy, our thoughts are with her family at this sad time.

“Our Artistic Director, Paula Garfield, still remembers meeting the Queen back in May 2011. We are all thankful for the Queen’s continued hard work and commitment in recognising the importance of theatre and arts in our culture.”

NRCPD, the voluntary regulator of Deaf communication professionals, said: “Rest in Peace Queen Elizabeth the Second. Her support of so many charities over her 70-year reign has made such a huge difference to the lives of many.

“Our thoughts are with the [Royal Family] today.”

Craig Crowley, CEO of Action Deafness, said: “Really sad news. She had reigned over us for 70 years. A great innings as our monarch.

“[A] lifetime of service to the Commonwealth and the world.”

Elsewhere, the deafblind charity Sense expressed its “deepest condolences” to their patron, the Princess Royal, for her loss.

“Her Majesty, The Queen, served crown and country with selfless devotion, earning the affection of generations in the UK, and around the world,” they said.

The Queen was also the royal patron of the Royal Association for Deaf people (RAD), which said it was “extremely saddened” by her passing.

The passing of our patron, HM The Queen: RAD’s statement pic.twitter.com/cW0tqyROJB

— Royal Association for Deaf people (@royaldeaf) September 8, 2022

A statement from the charity read: “We were honoured and very proud of Her Majesty’s patronage and will always be inspired by her compassion, strength and commitment to an inclusive and empowered global community.

“The Royal Association for Deaf people (RAD) was founded in 1841 and has been privileged with royal patronage since 1843.

“As a mark of our respect we will be observing the national period of mourning.”

“Our thoughts and sincere condolences are with the Royal Family at this time.”

DeafBlind UK tweeted: “We are truly devastated to hear the news of Her Majesty The Queen’s passing.

“She made such a difference to charities and the people they support for which she’ll always be remembered and for which we’ll always be grateful.

“We will always remember her with affection and gratitude.”

Meanwhile, the British Deaf Association (BDA) said it “shares the nation’s great sorrow and deep sense of loss” following the death of Her Majesty.

The BDA’s chair, David Buxton, said: “Her Majesty served crown and country for more than seventy years with selfless and steadfast dedication, earning the respect and affection of the Deaf community in the UK, the Commonwealth, and around the world.

The British Deaf Association (BDA) shares the nation’s great sorrow and deep sense of loss at the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

As Chair of the Board of Trustees, I would like to say: pic.twitter.com/NeiQcVK4NB

— British Deaf Association (@BDA_Deaf) September 8, 2022

“The Royal Family has a historically strong association with the Deaf community. Her Majesty’s mother-in-law, Princess Alice of Denmark and Greece, was herself Deaf from birth.

“On this saddest of days, we, the Deaf community, would like to express our deepest condolences to the Royal Family at this time of both personal and national mourning.”

The National Deaf Children’s Society tweeted: “It’s with great sadness that we hear the news of the passing of Her Majesty The Queen.

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A post shared by National Deaf Children's Soc (@ndcs_uk)

“We remember her incredible work throughout her reign, and acknowledge the lasting impact this will have. Our deepest sympathies and condolences go to the Royal Family at this time.”

Signature, an awarding body for sign language qualifications, said: “The thoughts of everyone at Signature are with the Royal Family following the death of Her Majesty The Queen.

“For 70 years Her Majesty The Queen has reigned over us, with great commitment, pride and humility.”

Lynn Gillon, chair of trustees at the British Tinnitus Association, said the “dedication and service” to the UK by the late Queen was “exemplary”.

“Her Majesty provided support and encouragement to numerous charities, their members of staff, trustees and volunteers over her lifetime and her work and dedication made a real and lasting difference to the shape of civil society across the UK.

“Everyone at the British Tinnitus Association
recognises the incredible contribution that the late Queen has made to the voluntary sector and our society.

”Our thoughts are with her family at this sad time,” she said.

Queen Elizabeth II will be succeeded by King Charles III.

Photo: Home Office/Flickr.

By Liam O’Dell. Liam is an award-winning Deaf freelance journalist and campaigner from Bedfordshire. He can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.