My grandmother, who was a child of the first world war, kept a front room and a back room.

The back room, also close to the pantry and kitchen, was where all daily life went on. The front room was the prohibited space, kept spotless and tidy “in case the Queen ever comes round”.  That room, however, was opened up for family, friends and neighbours to come together, to mark significant occasions, celebrations, mourning and death, all times of change and transition. 

During this national period of mourning, Iron Mill College opens its ‘front room’.  I can imagine that the front room of this beautiful Edwardian house that is our College will have been opened in similar ways in time gone by to see the family that lived here through many other national, community and personally sad times.
 
Whether a monarchist, royalist, or simply to share thoughts and stories of change and transition as well as be with others, to current and previous staff and students, IMC friends, our Barnfield Crescent, Southernhay and Exeter neighbours, and our colleagues in the counselling, psychotherapy and adult education sectors, we invite you to come by, at any time between 10-0 – 16-0 on week days to sit in our front room, drink tea, with biscuits and cake, to quietly take comfort from being with others or to meet and talk.  For our mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers, who now like Queen Elizabeth II have gone before us.
 
Iron Mill College does not have car parking but is a few minutes’ walk from Princesshay, the house at the end of the Crescent. Please come to our front door and we will be deeply honoured to welcome you to our front room.
 
 
Image source: Death of Queen Elizabeth II: The moment history stops - BBC News