Royal affection (From The Argus)

Royal affection

8:20am Wednesday 15th February 2012 in Your Argus

DEAR Brighton, the home of my birth. My hear throbs across the airwaves to your restless, vibrant and everlasting shores.

February 6, 1952, is a truly vivid memory for me. My husband Peter and I were living in Cromwell Road, in Hove, and I was six months’ pregnant with our first child. Peter telephoned me and told me to sit down. He informed me our King had died. I remained seated and sobbed. I was heartbroken. King George VI was so dearly loved.

Of course, we could not have known at that desperately sad moment in time that his precious daughter Elizabeth would succeed her beloved father with such great strength, determination, and devotion to duty, and remain our steadfast rock throughout 60 years of constant changes in technology, science and, sadly, the threat to treasured core values.

As we salute our dear Queen with love, loyalty and gratitude, let us also thank her husband Prince Phillip for being her much-needed captain at the helm in his own completely individualistic, no-nonsense way. This has been the case throughout 60 years of turbulent history, embracing happiness, heartache and pain in a violent, hostile and divisive world.

May the years ahead continue to enrich our country through our Queen, whose stature, profound knowledge and presence is blessed with affection and respect across the globe.

Mary Ratcliffe, ex wren, P5 Enigma ULTRA, Old Town, Swindon