THE Rabbi of the Bournemouth Reform Synagogue has paid tribute to Her Majesty the Queen, saying she was “highly regarded and respected” amongst his congregants.

Maurice Michaels, speaking to the Daily Echo on the day of Her Majesty’s death, said she provided continuity to everyone.

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He said: “The big thing was continuity. So much has changed throughout the period of her reign, even on a day to day basis, last week we had one Prime Minister this week we have another.

“Fashion changes, music changes, everything changes, but the Monarch is still there.

“She was very well regarded, very well respected. I can recall on occasion in the synagogue some of the ladies commenting on the hat she was wearing at Ascot.

“It was a simple thing but an example of the importance of her life.

“She was down to earth, a real person, not somebody sitting in an ivory tower which could be so easy to do.

“There was a feeling she knew what was going on, she would not be slow in telling the Prime Minister if she had something to say.

“She was a real person.”