Skelton Road Premier Convenience Store owner waits 11 hours to see Queen Elizabeth lying in state at Westminster Hall
The owner of a Diss newsagents has described how he was brought to tears after waiting 11 hours to see the Queen lying in state.
Ravi Thirunavukkarasu, who runs Premier Convenience Store, had joined the queue alone at 11.40am on Sunday, September 18, braving the muggy weather for almost an entire day to pay his respects to his beloved monarch.
Having joined almost seven miles away at Southwark Park, he finally arrived at Westminster Hall later that night to say his final goodbyes to Her Majesty.
“The queue was massive and it was a long way to go,” said the 42-year-old, who lives above his shop in Skelton Road.
“I made some friends while I was waiting – one Spaniard and one Belgian, and we would keep each other’s places as we would go to get coffee or McDonald’s for each other.”
Mr Thirunavukkarasu, who moved to England from Sri Lanka back in 2004, also made sure to keep his friends back home updated on his progress.
“I told my friend I was in the queue and was sending him pictures, and he said he was very proud of me.”
At 9.57pm, he finally arrived at Westminster Hall and described the flood of emotion at seeing the Queen’s coffin lying in state.
“I saw the coffin and I had no words,” said Mr Thirunavukkarasu.
“Everyone was very quiet and I became very emotional and started crying.
“I love the Queen – I’ve been to Sandringham twice and am very fond of this country and all the good she’s done for it.
“It was all worth it in the end.”
It was a moment shared with his wife, Saya, 43, children Sacchidn, 12, and Achcira, nine, who were watching the live feed of the lying in state back home in Diss.
“My daughter would have loved to come but they didn’t know how long the queue would be – so they were watching on the TV,” he said.
“My daughter managed to see me and sent me a picture.”
Almost two weeks on and Mr Thirunavukkarasu has still kept hold of his wristband issued to everybody in the queue – something that has become a great source of pride for his staff and customers alike.
“I’m never going to lose it,” he said. “I think I’m going to get it framed – I have got a memory for life now and something for my kids.
“The staff are so proud of me and also my customers, who think it’s brilliant that I went.”