School remembers Queen Mother

Verena Hanbury has been chairwoman of the school for children with disabilities in North Chailey, near Lewes, for 18 years.

The Queen Mother became patron in 1934 and Mrs Hanbury attended every royal visit.

She said: "I was three when she first came to the school and I thought she was wonderful.

"She showed us such care and attention and her visits were always memorable days for the children and staff.

"Whoever she was talking to, she made us feel it was the only thing she wanted to be doing.

"During her visits everybody felt uplifted and the children adored her."

The Queen Mother visited the school six times. She opened a ward in 1936 while Duchess of York and in 1945 she took Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret on a visit.

Later, in 1979, she was presented with a hand-made tea cosy by a girl who had been a Thalidomide victim.

At the school's 80th birthday party in 1983, seven-year-old Alex Leaney rushed from under a cordon to hold hands with the Queen Mother.

Mrs Hanbury, from Piltdown, Uckfield, said: "She was ready for the unexpected and had kind words for everybody.

"She was always smiling and had a lovely sense of humour.

"I feel you have got to remember what a wonderful life she had and what she gave to us."

Mrs Hanbury's grandmother, Dame Grace Kimmins, founded the school in 1903.

She was made dame by the Queen Mother's husband, George VI, in honour of her tireless work with children.

Since then, Mrs Hanbury's family have had a strong connection with Chailey Heritage, which now employs more than 200 staff.

Her father, Anthony Kimmins, was on the school's governing body and Mrs Hanbury has worked as a voluntary helper and governor.

Mrs Hanbury said memorial plans for the Queen Mother would be discussed when the school reopened after the Easter break.

She said: "She will always be remembered by us.

"We will miss her very much but we were very lucky to have her.

"We should not be sad. The love and care she gave is a special gift to keep forever."