SILENCE shrouded Bury's normally busy shopping precinct as the town paid its respect to Diana, Princess of Wales on Saturday (Sept 6).

Very few shops were open for trade as were a small number of market stalls but business was, as expected, non-existent. Mill Gate resembled a ghost-town with only a small number of staff huddled together, quietly discussing the poignancy of the country's sad loss.

Two cleaners stood silently outside a TV showroom, watching the televised coverage of the funeral. One couple sat amid the eerie, peaceful complex.

Outside Bury Parish Church, locals looked sombrely at the colourful array of flowers, placed there since the Princess's death by mourners in their hundreds. The church bells tolled.

By 11am, most of those in the town centre bowed their heads as they observed the two minutes of silence. Some continued on their way, going about their business.

The hush was continuously broken by motorists intent on reaching their destinations as quickly as possible. Taxis sped by. One, an insensitive taxi driver, pressed his car's horn in disgust at a motorist who pulled to the side of the road. She was forced to restart her vehicle and inch forward to allow the taxi to pass.

Two police officers on horseback, PCs Katrina Janes and Karen Smith, voluntarily formed a guard-of-honour outside the steps of the church where the borough's Mayor and Mayoress, Coun Roy and his wife,Mrs Kathryn Walker and other civic leaders joined in a service of remembrance led by Canon J.R. Smith.

He called on the congregation to reflect on and remember the 'Queen of Hearts'' unselfish support of those in need, her love of the people and her beauty.

By the mid-afternoon, life slowly began to return to the town's streets, although the usual throng of shoppers never reached its usual peak.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.