At midday today Buckingham Palace announced that The Duke of Edinburgh died in the morning.
He was residing at Windsor Castle with the Queen and had been poorly for a couple of months. There had been no particular news about his health in the past few weeks so the announcement was unexpected.
It is ironic that because of the lockdown restrictions the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have actually had more time together in this last year than they might normally have had. Sadly, however, like most families, they have not been able to have family members (or anyone else) to visit because of restrictions.
People will, of course, remember him in their own special way... as will I. Did I ever see him? Did I ever meet him to speak to? Yes to both of these.
[1] As a child in 1951. Princess Elizabeth and Prince Phillip toured Canada and they arrived on the CPR train and paid a visit to Salmon Arm in October. The day was wet and I recall puddles in the CPR station yard where we school children awaiting the arrival of the CPR train. We were given flags to hold. Here we are below!
This photo is from The Salmon Arm Observer newspaper: "Princess Elizabeth Visit to Salmon Arm in 1951". I recall being in this crowd as a Grade 2 child along with the other school children. I recall being about 5 rows back by the time the Royals had arrived. Having looked carefully at this excellent photo taken from The Observer archives' website I cannot see myself. But hold on.... what's this I see in the front row, or should I say "Who is this!? I reckonize that boy wearing that shirt... my brother Don! I would have been 7 years old and he was 6 years old so that must be the Grade 1 class in the very front row.
[Later] A comment from JB on The Observer website next to this photo: "October 25, 195l issue of the Observer and it mentions Mary Meek making a presentation. She was a great favorite grade one teacher of many of us 70 something kids. Looks like a young Marion Reece next to the princess. There was a much better photo of a sea of kid faces (I'm front and center next to Mary Jamieson and David Askew.)"
I have put a red circle marking him but it is very hard to see. However, the photo is very sharp especially of the children in the front rows. To clearly see faces it really would be necessary to copy it into something like Photoshop and blow it up. (The resolution is high so it will not go blurry.)
A second photo from The Observer for the same occasion.
[2] In the mid 1970s at Paisley College of Technology where Iain was Head of Department of Civil Engineering for 7 years. The Duke of Edinburgh was there to confer the degrees at a June graduation ceremony. Before the actual ceremony members of staff and their wives were invited to meet in an upstairs side room beforehand. We were told he would be circulating in the room, with his aide, to meet people.
I recall standing in a group of about 12 people, all staff and wives (there were no women staff in Engineering in those days) chatting while we awaited the Royal party moving through the room. I am the sort of person who will easily chat to anybody so was eagerly awaiting his arrival. Iain, on the other hand, had absolutely no time for any member of the Royal family and certainly would not push himself forward to speak!
So what happens when Prince Phillip arrives to our little circle? His aide introduced to him to all of us in the circle. He chatted to Iain who found that he was very well informed and asked perceptive questions about Scottish education in general and education of engineers in particular! They then had this animated conversation; no one could get a word in edgeways! Meanwhile, I stood there noting that (a) he was extremely smartly dressed with a beautiful light blue tie and (b) he had clearly done his homework! I was quite awestruck ... and, believe it or not... never uttered a word!
[3] The Scottish TV News had lots of coverage of his life including funny stories that people recall. For example one man recalls the time when he was being briefed about The Duke of Edinburgh who was due to arrive for the opening of the Queensferry Bridge in 2017. "Whatever you do don't walk slowly and don't treat him as an old man!" (He was only 94 years on that occasion!)
And lastly, where I was and what I was doing on this particular day?
Answer: getting my second jab of the cornovirus Astra-Zeneca vaccine at Milngavie Town Hall.
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