News  »  Monkhill Chapel newsletter 10th April 2021

Dear All,

Until yesterday our news was all about the latest on the pandemic, our marvellous vaccination roll-out and easing of lockdown arrangements. What a difference a day makes!

It is now dominated by the sad news of the death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh.

 

This week I thought I would share with you my connections with the late Duke of Edinburgh which I hope you will find interesting.

In 1974, after a stint working in a Building Society after leaving school, I secured a job working in Cumbria County Council Education Department in Portland Square, Carlisle. A job I really enjoyed with a wide range of people and experiences which set me up well for my future working life. I worked in Further Education Department providing admin support for Further Education and Community Advisers. Also the Outdoor Activity Advisers where my role involved providing support for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme particularly the co-ordination and provision of Assessors for the Expedition part of the D of E Scheme. I loved it and built up such a good rapport with all the advisers. They kindly put my name forward to receive an invitation to Buckingham Palace to a Gold Award Ceremony where awards were presented by the Duke of Edinburgh to a variety of young people accompanied by parents and sponsors. He always tried to speak to everyone who was there and this was the first time I met him on 31 July 1975 (about 5 weeks prior to my wedding.) Donald went with me as far as the big gates outside the palace but, of course, he was allowed no further because he didn't have the relevant invitation that I had! Once inside, because the Queen wasn't in residence at the time, we were given quite a guided tour and were even allowed to stand outside on the balcony at the back of the Palace overlooking the gardens. This was back in the day before the "general public" were allowed in Buckingham Palace as they are now so it was rather prestigious at the time to receive an invitation such as this. The second time I was presented to him was a couple of years later in 1977 at Lairthwaite School in Keswick at a Duke of Edinburgh's Award event. Needless to say he didn't recognise me from the first time but I do have a picture I have kept of him talking to me and a colleague.

 

Over the next week, we will again be able to visit shops and try on clothes and have a trip to the hairdressers. Also drink and eat outside. Please enjoy these new freedoms but also please take care.

Looking further ahead to next weekend and the funeral of The Duke of Edinburgh, we keep the Royal Family in our thoughts.

 

Our prayers are with the Queen and her family at this time

May he rest in peace and rise in glory

AMEN

 

Best wishes to you all,

Lynne