THE whole of Britain ground to a halt as millions of people observed two minutes silence for those killed in the London bombings.

The Queen paid very public homage at one of the Buckingham Palace gates; Parliament abandoned its proceedings for the duration; factories, businesses, shops and schools stopped work; and even the British Open golf championship came to a standstill.

All was peaceful, solemn and silent – except at Canterbury Cathedral where the noise created by a University of Kent graduation ceremony caused distress, disapproval and anger.

The nationwide two-minute silence at noon took place when the Cathedral was hosting two events, a University degree ceremony and a service for those killed and injured in the London bombings.

Unfortunately for 250 worshippers attending the service of prayers for the dead, maimed and injured in the Crypt, their solemn tribute was disrupted by noise from the graduation ceremony in the main body of the Cathedral.

One of those in the Crypt, Becky Strickland, of Corone Close, Folkestone, complained aftewards to University of Kent vice-chancellor Prof David Melville.

She wrote: "Many of us were appalled by the lack of respect shown by your University.

"Your staff obviously decided that it was unimportant to observe the two minute silence but the clapping and cheering that was very clearly heard during this time was both distressing and offensive to the memory of the many bomb victims.

"The Crypt service was full, with many nationalities and faiths present.

"Millions of people up and down the country chose to remember the victims at noon. It is reprehensible that your University’s decision not to made the Crypt service held in our premier Cathedral noisy, intrusive and irreverent."

She was supported by Sarah Munday, 41-year-old Marlowe Theatre media official, who said: "All you could hear were the cheers, whoops of delight and applause from the graduation ceremony, which was highly inappropriate.

"I was so incensed I complained to a member of the Cathedral staff, who sympathised.

"Many members of the congregation were from overseas. I cannot imagine what they made of the goings on at the very seat of the Church of England on a very sad day."

The University has apologised "unreservedly" for the distress caused.

In a statement it said: "We would like to reassure you there was no intention on our part to disregard the solemnity of the occasion.

"Indeed, our thoughts were very much with the victims of the bombings during the silence we observed both on campus and, a few minutes later, in the Cathedral.

"As you are aware, the national two-minute silence at noon took place during one of our degree ceremonies.

"This meant we had a very difficult decision to make as to whether we halted the on-going ceremony at midday, which we felt would be unfair to those few remaining students yet to receive their degrees, or we did so a few minutes later at the end of the ceremony.

"After much deliberation, we chose the latter option. Whether or not this was the right decision is hard to say, even with hindsight.

"Members of the University, who were on the campus, were able to take part in the silence at the specified time.

"We apologise for the distress caused to members of the public observing the silence in the Cathedral and assure them that no disrespect was intended."

Cathedral officials were also apologetic. They said they had made it clear to the University that a silence in the Cathedral would be observed at noon.

A review of planning for days on which the Cathedral is used for more than one event will be carried out, said Christopher Robinson, Cathedral press officer.

He added: "The brief service demonstrated the desire for people to make a collective stand against these atrocities. Many worshippers were from overseas."

Prayers have been offered at every service in the Cathedral since the bombings.

The Holy Innocents Chapel has been set aside as a quiet place for those wishing to pray or reflect on the events in London.