1.
LV. WESTMINSTER HALL PEOPLE QUEUING
0.08

2.
SLV. PEOPLE WAIT OUTSIDE PAN TO...PEOPLE SITTING ON PAVEMENT (3 SHOTS)
0.19

3.
CU. MAN IN QUEUE WEARING DEERSTALKER HAT
0.21

4.
GV. MAN WITH SWISS FLAG & SIGN: "CHURCHILL FRIEND AND PROTECTOR OF OUR COUNTRY -- WE THANK YOU"
0.28

5.
LV. QUEUE
0.31

6.
SV. LADY CHURCHILL'S COACH ARRIVES DURING REHEARSAL
0.36

7.
LV. SAILORS PULLING GUN CARRIAGE
0.47

8.
SV. GUN CARRIAGE
0.52

9.
LV. GUN CARRIAGE DETAIL MARCHES
0.55

10.
CU. AUSTRALIAN OFFICIAL'S CAR
0.56

11.
PAN TO...VARIOUS AMBASSADORS' CARS (3 SHOTS)
1.11

12.
CU. CZECH AMBASSADOR'S CAR
1.15

13.
SV. AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER'S CAR ENTERS
1.21

14.
LV. INT...CATAFALQUE WITH WATCH ON DUTY
1.26

15.
SV. CHURCHILL'S ORDER OF THE GARTER INSIGNIA ON CUSHION
1.30

16.
SV.EXT...PEOPLE START TO ENTER WESTMINSTER HALL (5 SHOTS)
1.49

17.
GV. RIVER THAMES PAN TO END OF QUEUE
1.53

18.
SV. MOURNERS BUY TEA FROM W.V.S. CANTEEN (SHOTS)
2.01

19.
SV. PEOPLE IN QUEUE SIP TEA
2.03

20.
LV. QUEUE Moves UP
2.07

21.
LV. QUEUE NEAR WESTMINSTER PALACE
2.14

22.
LV. BLADON VILLAGE PAN TO..SIGN "BLADON"
2.19

23.
SV. DESERTED STREET, "NO WAITING" SIGN
2.20

24.
SV. TELEPHONE ENGINEER PUTS UP NEW WIRES
2.25

25.
SV. EXTRA TELEPHONE BOOTHS INSTALLED
2.28

26.
LV. RAILWAY STATION
2.32

27.
CU. "HANDBOROUGH FOR B NHEIM" SIGN
2.34

28.
SV. WORKMEN MAKING ALTERATIONS TO STATION
2.38

29.
LV. BLADON CHURCH (2 SHOTS)
2.45

30.
SV. CHURCHILL'S GRAVE
2.49

31.
LV. CHURCH, WAR MEMORIAL IN FRONT
2.54



Initials DS/V/WM/JG JT/V/WH/JG



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: SOLEMN TRIBUTE BY A NATION TO ONE OF ITS GREATEST STATESMEN BEGAN TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN THE THREE DAY PERIOD OF LYING-IN-STATE FOR SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL COMMENCED IN ANCIENT WESTMINSTER HALL. AT NINE O'CLOCK THIS MORNING, THE QUEUE OF MOURNERS STARTED TO THE FILE PAST THE COFFIN, HEADED BY MR. HAROLD WILSON, THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, AND HIS WIFE.

FOLLOWING THEM CAME MEMBERS OF THE CABINET, LEADERS OF THE POLITICAL PARTIES AND MEMBERS OF BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. FOR TWO HOURS THE PRIVATE VIEWING CONTINUED WITH MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD, THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS AND THE STAFF OF THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER, PAYING THEIR LAST RESPECTS IN TURN.

THEN, AT ELEVEN O'CLOCK, THE FIRST OF THE ORDINARY CITIZENS SLOWLY FILED INTO THE 'HALL OF KINGS' TO MOVE SLOWLY BY THE COFFIN, RESTING ON A CATAFALQUE DRAPED WITH BLACK VELVET. SOME HAD WAITED THROUGHOUT THE HILL, FROSTY NIGHT TO BE AMONG THE FIRST TO OFFER HOMAGE, BUT AS THE PRIVATE VIEWING WENT ON THE QUEUE SWELLED TO MORE THAN THREE THOUSAND.

AS THE CROWD WAITED PATIENTLY FOR THEIR TURN TO ENTER THE HISTORIC CHAMBER, THEY WATCHED MEN FROM THE ROYAL NAVY REHEARSE THEIR ROLE FOR SATURDAY'S STATE FUNERAL. THEY MARCHED WITH THE GUN CARRIAGE WHICH WILL BE USED TO TAKE THE COFFIN FROM WESTMINSTER TO ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL.

THE NOISE OF MARCHING FEET AND PASSING TRAFFIC DID NOT PENETRATE INTO THE GREAT STONE HALL. HERE, WHERE PARLIAMENTARIANS USUALLY RUSH TO DEBATE WITH ECHOING FOOTSTEPS ACROSS THE STONE FLOOR, ALL WAS STILL. ACROSS THE COFFIN WAS A UNION JACK, AND ATOP THAT A CUSHION BEARING THE INSIGNIA OF SIR WINSTON'S ORDER OF THE GARTER. THE COFFIN AND THE CATAFALQUE WERE RAISED ON A PLATFORM COVERED WITH PURPLE CARPET AND AT EACH CORNER THE WATCH STOOD WITH THEIR ARMS REVERSED. THE ONLY MOVEMENT APART FROM THAT OF THE PASSING MOURNERS CAME FROM FLICKERING ORANGE CANDLES WHICH CAST A PALE GLOW OVER THE COFFIN.

WITHIN AN HOUR AND A HALF OF THE HALL BEING OPENED TO THE PUBLIC, THE QUEUE HAD EXTENDED AROUND THE SQUARE OUTSIDE AND DOWN ALONG THE EMBANKMENT, TOWARDS LAMBETH BRIDGE. IT WAS THEN MORE THAN THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILE LONG AND GROWING EACH MINUTE. UNITS OF THE WOMEN'S VOLUNTARY SERVICE OPENED MOBILE CANTEENS TO PROVIDE HOT DRINKS FOR THE MOURNERS AS THEY PATIENTLY WAITED.

THE 'HALL OF KINGS' IS TO BE OPEN 23 HOURS A DAY FOR THE NEXT THREE DAYS TO ENABLE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO PAY THEIR LAST RESPECTS IN PLACE WHERE SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL, IN OTHER TIMES, HAD OFTEN WALKED.