1 February 2010
HRH Princess Alexandra Visits The Royal Star & Garter Home
Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra paid an informal visit to The Royal Star & Garter Homes in Richmond this week. The Princess, who is President of the Charity for disabled ex-Service men and women, met most of the residents and a number of staff including five student nurses from the Royal Centre for Defence Medecine at Selly Oak NHS Hospital, Birmingham, who will be working at the Richmond Home over the next six weeks.Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra, who is President of The Royal Star & Garter Charity, has paid an informal visit to the Richmond Home. The Princess was met by Vice Admiral Sir John Dunt, Chairman of the Board of Governors, and Mike Barter, the Charity's Chief Executive. They introduced her to members of staff including the Domestic Services team who are responsible for keeping the huge building spick-and-span and for running the Laundry. Recognising that some of the staff were Spanish speakers, the Princess delighted everyone by greeting them with a "Buenos Dias".
Resident Mary Giddings, whose husband Served in the Royal Artillery, presented the Princess with a posy of spring flowers. Her Royal Highness then went to the Day Rooms on the residential units and met almost all the home's residents, some family members and staff. Among the residents she spoke to were former Royal Marines Dick Martin and Louis Pengelly-Phillips (Louis took part in the D-Day landings and is the home's longest resident) and Stephanie Kerans who was in the WRNS and acted as a ‘plotter' for the D-Day landings.
Before departing the Princess signed the visitors' book and chatted to staff who had gathered in the main hall.
Photo Captions: 1. HRH Princess Alexandra receiving a posy of flowers from Royal Star & Garter resident Mary Giddings. 2. HRH Princess Alexandra meets residents at The Royal Star & Garter's Richmond home.