Update 13
I cannot do other than open this latest update with some words of appreciation for the life of our late Queen. She was at the head of our nation from just before my 8th birthday until this afternoon. In February 1952 I well remember being summoned into my school assembly hall to be told by the headmaster that King George who’d seen the country through the war, had died - we sang the national anthem together and then returned to our classrooms. Eight decades on we’ve lived through some extraordinary times and all under her symbolic leadership. I am not a wholly committed monarchist but no one has yet shown me a better system for choosing a head of state - elections throw up lunatics like a Trump for the USA or as for France, a criminal such as Jacques Chirac. Appointed by the hereditary system, Elizabeth II was in a wholly different and so much better class than either of them.
TB and HMQ in the Throne Room Buckingham Palace
When I was appointed to the Order of the British Empire, and invited to the Palace to receive the insignia, I hoped against hope that it would be from her Majesty, and so it proved. To my daughter’s disappointment, HMQ was not wearing a crown, but she was very much on form. I joined the queue as instructed: “when your name is called, step forward until you are alongside her Majesty, turn to your left, make a slight bow and step forward. The Queen will hang your medal on your lapel and while she does, she will talk to you.”
The Lord Chamberlain announced my award as being “For services to independent radio production” and I wondered from which direction the questions might come. First of all, HMQ asked what kind of programmes we made; a perfectly logical starting point in response to which I talked about our work with Sir Mark Tully which had received some excellent reviews, but then came something I’d not anticipated: “Do you have your own studios, or do you have to go to the Radio Stations to make them?”. I didn’t see or hear her Majesty being prompted, but boy was I impressed with that question. As she held out her hand I knew that my time was up, I nervously walked backwards, bowed again, turned to my right and met the team who boxed my medal and directed me to take a seat for the remainder of the ceremony, all of which was meticulously produced.
The death of a monarch is a huge event, and after an unprecedented reign of 70 years, there really is an awful lot for which I do feel a real sense of gratitude. Something that through my whole life has given our nation a sense of certainty and of permanence, has now left us. For the vast majority of us, Queen Elizabeth was a constant in our daily life. Now we face a period of uncertainty, with a Monarch about whom some folk are cynical, about whom some are even dismissive. King Charles III may yet be able to rise to his mother’s fine example and in that endeavour we must wish him well. But If he cannot, then there may well be seismic changes ahead. At the end of this momentous week, I simply want to say my own heartfelt, “Thank you Ma’am”.
On my own health front, this week I’m a bit more nervous about my mobility, tho’ I had a call from the Physiotherapist who thinks I should be doing more walking - she wants to see me at the hospital next week to come up with an exercise regime. Her aim is to extend the use of my legs for as long as possible until that time when I eventually become bed bound. Currently I walk ten lengths of our lower ground floor corridor every day using the rollator for support. It takes a bit of will power but does give me a sense of albeit modest achievement. As of this week, I’m now on just 500 micrograms of dexamethasone and Michelle is determined to reduce my intake to zero provided my symptoms (remember my strange hearing experiences?) don’t return. I’ve also been prescribed 1mg Lorazapan “to help with anxiety and breathlessness” - they seem to be helping me sleep longer at night. Ominously perhaps, I’ve also been given liquid Morphine to control the pain if I can’t swallow tablets.
This weekend as a treat, and in recognition of Charles III’s ascension, I’m planning for us to enjoy the excellent Sunday lunch at the Hotel du Vin. Long live the King.
