Royal visitor is made welcome

Royal visitor is made welcome

1 February 2012 - by CIARA COLHOUN

PRINCE Edward brought unseasonable warmth to a chilly Newcastle yesterday afternoon.

In a surprise visit to Shimna Valley Holiday Home, which is run by the Northern Cancer Fund for Children, the Earl of Wessex delighted young cancer survivors, volunteers and staff.

There was great anticipation in the centre as preparations were made for his early afternoon arrival, which was kept a closely guarded secret until yesterday morning.

His appearance did not disappoint.

The Prince immediately put his audience at ease, chatting easily to the crowds and sparking, at times, raucous laughter as he mingled with those who form the backbone of the Shimna Valley Holiday Home and its adjacent Narnia log cabin, which offers respite for families of those affected by cancer.

He had been invited to the centre to present a group of young people with their Duke of Edinburgh gold awards as well as presenting the centre with a certificate allowing it to assess the awards in the future.

But before getting down to official business, and with great warmth and interest, he spent almost an hour chatting to groups associated with the centre, while enjoying a tour of the facility, which he described as “fantastic.”

Among those the Prince enjoyed a chat with was Saintfield’s Maria Turner, who suffered from leukaemia as a child. Maria, who is now 24, has maintained a close connection to the centre since she first enjoyed respite holidays there as a young child.

The Prince said the centre must give children like Maria, who are under great stress due to their illness or the illness of a family member, great freedom to “explore their imagination.”

“It must take you away from the challenges you have to face and remind you that there is life outside,” he sympathised.

The Prince also chatted to centre staff, including manager Mrs. Patricia Kidd, who said she felt honoured by his visit.

Mrs. Kidd said it had been difficult to keep the exciting secret to herself, while preparing for the Prince’s arrival, but said she was delighted with the success of his visit.

“We have been privileged in the past to have had a visit from Irish President Mary McAleese and the Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde, but it is not often that a place like Shimna Valley Holiday Home will have a visitor like this,” she said.

“This is as big as it gets and he has been so warm and friendly. This feels like an acknowledgement of all the hard work we have been doing.

“He seems so warm and interested in what we do.”

The Prince also chatted to volunteers of the centre and fundraisers who help the facility thrive.

He spoke with Mr. Oliver King, who has been volunteering as a driver for the centre since 1997, and Mrs. Evelyn Morgan, who is involved in a local fundraising group.

Their comments afterwards summed up the warmth and charm of the Prince, who seemed genuinely pleased to be there.

“He was so casual, warm and easygoing that you would not think he was part of the Royal family,” Mr. King said.

Mrs. Morgan was equally high in praise. “What a delightful and affable individual,” she said. “He was very easy.”