IN MEMORY OF
QUEEN
ELIZABETH II VOLUME 105: ISSUE 03
www.tofieldmerc.com
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2022
Queen’s passing felt by late Tofield resident’s family Fred Rasmussen trained and presented horses to Her Royal Highness Jana Semeniuk Staff Reporter
While the world continues to mourn the passing last week of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96, Susan Rasmussen, daughter of late Tofield resident Fred Rasmussen, has been reflecting on her own memories of the Queen which include personal recollections by her late father as told in a book he made 10 years ago titled ‘A Collection of Memories; My Life with Horses.” Fred Rasmussen, originally from Denmark, was a former RCMP Staff Sergeant and Riding Master of the famous RCMP Musical Ride who personally trained two horses that were gifted to the Queen. One of the horses, a black mare named Burmese, was given in 1969 and became the Queen’s favourite mount for 18 years in Trooping of the Colour; a parade marking Queen Elizabeth II’s official birthday every June. The other was chosen by the Queen in 1973, when she returned to Canada during the RCMP Centennial. She was presented with five horses, of which she chose Jerry; a black three-year-old gelding which the Queen immediately renamed ‘Centenial’ purposely spelt with only one N. Susan, who was 11 years old at the time, remembered how exciting it was to see Queen Elizabeth II. “It was an exciting time in all of our lives. We didn’t get to meet her, she walked past us while dad was showing her the horse,” said Susan. “We got to curtsy and all that fun stuff. It was
pretty amazing as kids, to be part of that.” Fred completed Centenial’s training in 1977, then accompanied him, and Insp. Anderson, to London where Centenial was officially presented to the Queen. “We didn’t get to go, but we heard all about it after,” said Susan. In Fred’s book he described Queen Elizabeth as ‘a remarkable person with a difficult job. She rules with dignity, has an excellent sense of humour, is respected by leaders the world over and by all who meet her.’ At Windsor Castle, Fred was introduced to the Queen by Commissioner Maurice Nadon, who mentioned that Fred not only trained Centenial but also Burmese. Queen Elizabeth II replied that ‘if he was half as good as Burmese, he would be a lovely horse.’ The next day, after Centenial was presented to the Queen, she invited Fred to accompany her, Princess Margaret, and Stablemaster Roger Oliver on an unforgettable 90-minute ride through the grounds. “My dad just idolized her because he got to spend quality time with her that nobody else really got to do,” said Susan. Upon hearing of Fred’s retirement, the following year, Queen Elizabeth had a note written and signed a picture for him. The note read, ‘The Queen has heard of your recent retirement from the RCMP and has told me to write to send you her best wishes for the future. She has additionally signed this photograph for you, taken at the time Cente-
Former Tofield resident the late Fred Rasmussen, left, former head of the RCMP Musical Ride with Queen Elizabeth II (foreground). nial was presented to her majesty in 1977, and with it come her very best wishes. Burmese and Centenial continue to perform well, a lasting credit to the training that they received at your hands.’ Susan said that when her father passed away in Jan. last year the Queen, upon being informed of his death by her stable hand said, ‘I remember him fondly, the European fellow. Please pass my condolences to his family.’ “She was just a lovely lady and the
fact that she remembered my dad, so many years later, after he died, was pretty impressive,” said Susan. Although Fred passed away more than a year and a half ago, funeral arrangements could not be made due to COVID restrictions at the time. A celebration of his life has now been planned for Sept. 24 in Regina at the RCMP Depot Chapel, less than a week after Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral which will be held on Sept. 19 at Westminster Abbey in London.
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