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'The Queen had the most wonderful way with people': Norwood's memories of the charity's patron
Her Majesty regularly sent messages of support and when visiting Norwood services made residents feel at ease
September 9, 2022 12:26
Her Majesty regularly sent messages of support and when visiting Norwood services made residents feel at ease
September 9, 2022 12:26The Queen took an active interest in Norwood’s work as the patron of the charity and life president and former chair David Ereira has vivid recollections of her visit to one of its services in 2008.
“She made it clear when she was coming down that although this was a formal visit, she didn’t want any pomp and ceremony,” he told the JC.
“She didn’t want to be introduced to the great and good of our community. She really wanted to meet the residents. She arrived with her lady-in-waiting and a sergeant-at-arms - that was it.
“The first thing she did was to walk over to some of our residents who were in wheelchairs and introduced herself to them in the most wonderful, warm way, which took many of us by surprise.”
And she told Mr Ereira: “Thank you for having me. I’m so pleased to be with you today and I can see that everyone’s happy and it’s a very joyful place.”
The Queen then entered into “a real and proper conversation on what the difficulties were, what our issues were around caring for the residents. One of the things she commented on was how happy everybody seemed in the environment in which they lived.
“I don’t think there was anyone like her in the world with the experience she had to be able to disarm people instantly; to make conversation and put those they’re talking to at ease.
“When she was talking to the residents, it was as if they were the only people that mattered. That is an unbelievable gift and it’s something that I will never forget.”
Julian, who has learning disabilities, was among those the Queen met during her visit. He remembers being told to address her as “ma’am” and was among a flag-waving crowd as her car arrived. He showed her his “easy-read” contract for the job Norwood supported him to do and they chatted for a while.
Norwood co-president Lord Mendelsohn recalled that the Queen would regularly send messages of support for the charity’s events and would privately maintain a keen interest in its work, with briefings via her private secretaries.
“When the pandemic hit, she was interested in how we were responding and whether we were coping. She graciously made the Buckingham Palace social media sites available for us to have a campaign day.
“In a message sent for one of our annual dinners, she made a particular point to stress the length of the Royal household’s connection, writing: ‘My family’s association with Norwood began over 200 years ago when Prince Augustus Frederick, the then Duke of Sussex, became patron of the charity’.”