Royal Visits

 

The hospital was visited by senior officers and royalty. Emily Cook recalls two such occasions:

 

The Visit of HM The Queen

 

"The visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in, I think, 1942 was another highlight. HM came to inspect the Auxiliary Hospital and there was great excitement. The big day came at last and everyone was in their allotted position. After a tour of the kitchen and still room Mrs Benyon escorted HM along the dim, long corridor leading to the front of the House. This was reached through a very heavy swing door and my job was to hold it open for them to pass through. When they got to me HM paused and looked at Mrs Benyon who then said 'This is Miss Cook one of our voluntary helpers'. I shall never forget that beautiful smile, the flawless cheeks and eyes the blue of dog violets. 'Well done' she said, 'Keep up the good work' and passed on to the front hall to meet the top brass. After all the excitement was over and Mrs Benyon was passing me she stopped and said, 'Weren’t you lucky, I chose that spot especially for you'. Strange that as I had the impression I was put there so as not to be noticed. I thanked her graciously and I was really thrilled at my encounter. Of course the problem with meeting royalty is always to curtsey or not to curtsey, we had been tutored beforehand, just a bob if spoken to, deep curtsey if hand shaken. I stood to attention, had I moved to bob we should all have been swept into the hall by the door swinging shut, in any case it was taking all my effort to hold it there."

 

The visit of HRH the Princess Helena Victoria

 

"This was another exciting occasion, and this time we lowly ones were placed in the dining hall presumably getting the patients tea ready. HRH was an imposing looking lady but she turned out to be very jolly and friendly, insisting on shaking hands with each of us so it was right knee behind left knee and dip, or was it the other way? The Princess walked around the two long tables, all perfectly laid, and down the centre of each were huge dishes of hot house tomatoes from the gardens. After commenting how lucky the patients were to have such luxuries she waved and left. I wonder what she would have thought if she’d come back minutes later to find said tomatoes being removed. A case of now you see it, now you don’t."