Queen's funeral: The Harwich pub that opened its doors for mourners

Initially Harwich innkeeper Nick May thought he should close his pub on the day of the Queen's funeral out of respect. His staff talked him out of it, arguing those living alone in the Essex coastal town needed a place to mourn with others.

"I bowed to their better judgement, and have been proved wrong," the 53-year-old landlord of The Alma says.

"Pubs are one of the last vestiges of community, so it is part of our role to support that community. When a long-loved monarch dies it is our time to step up."

Mr May says: "I think people who have lost their parents or grandparents saw the Queen as a surrogate parent or grandparent and there's a reminder of times past - she was a constant.

"This a group moment of grief."

Peter Bull, 59, is a supervisor at the Port of Felixstowe on the other side of Harwich Harbour, and lifeboat operations manager at the RNLI. He has decided to commemorate the Queen at the pub.

"I was shocked [by the Queen's death] as the whole country was. She was the country, really," he says.

"I wanted to find a way to pay my respects and honour the Queen. I thought I would come and join friends and colleagues here rather than watch the funeral at home.

"Harwich was given its Royal Charter by James I in 1604 and has had strong links with royalty ever since."

Former soldier Adrian Jenner, 50, lives in Harwich and is also an RNLI volunteer.

"I've come to watch it with friends and colleagues as I didn't have the opportunity to go up to London during the week," he says.

"This is ideal really rather than sitting at home watching it.

"Like 1.2m veterans, I swore an oath of allegiance to the Queen and I am proud to have served her and the country.

"I was saddened like many other people - it was a massive loss to the country."

The pub has provided people with an opportunity to watch the service surrounded by others.

Faida Burnett says: "It is a privilege to be able to share this moment with the community around me and my neighbours."

Julie Cook says the atmosphere is solemn in the pub.

"When we walked in you could hear a pin drop," she says. "But it is just lovely."

Tony Francis says he is glad the pub opened its doors, as community was what the Queen was "all about".

"She was about pubs and people and schools and diversity," he says.

"Just touching the hearts of people, that's what she did."

Engineer Luke Giles, 37, came to the Alma from Lawford with his family and friends.

"We wanted to come down to mark the occasion with friends rather than be at home in isolation," he says.

"We're all friends and have children of the same age. It has been quite difficult to explain it [to the children] but we've done our best.

"I hope they didn't interrupt anybody's viewing of the funeral but they've been good for four and five year olds."

Derick Lyon, 91, is a former communications engineer and university lecturer.

"We've come because I believed in the Queen, and Nick was kind enough to invite us," he says.

He says he remembers the death of the Queen's father, George VI, which happened when he was a student at university.

"I remember feeling ever so touched," Mr Lyon says.

"You don't really realise how much we believe in the monarchy until one of them dies like this, and it comes to heart really."

Mr Lyon's wife Joan, who used to organise exhibitions for the Marconi company, says: "This is a rarity for us, coming out.

"We've made a special effort to come here today."

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