Couple noted for care and attention Our Loose Canon...
with Canon Eric Woods DL
Twice on my watch as Vicar of Sherborne, Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh visited the town, and the Abbey itself. The first time was in 1998, for the dedication of the Abbey’s new Great West Window. It was very much what in my trade we call a “stamp and circumponce” service, and I had little opportunity to do other than meet and greet our royal visitors. But in the processional line-up I did notice Prince Philip in animated conversation with my head verger, the late Keith Batten. Keith told me afterwards that the Duke was fascinated by what you might call the “physics” of the new window: its installation, and the techniques of its making and firing and leading. I remembered that when, for The Queen’s 2012 Diamond Jubilee Tour of the nation, Sherborne was chosen as her only destination in Dorset. The then
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Canon Eric Woods with Prince Philip
Lord-Lieutenant came to see me to plan the event. HM and HRH, she said, were rather “servicedout” – wherever they went there were more “stamp and circumponce” events. Could we do something different? That’s where my 1998 memory cut in. The Duke was fascinated by anything technical. Couldn’t we put trestles over the pews and get Abbey-related artists and craftsmen to do their stuff as he toured the church? But what about The Queen? Well, why not a marquee of the Close with a wonderful display of Dorset foods, wines and other produce?
And so it transpired. The LordLieutenant escorted The Queen round the marquee. I escorted Prince Philip round the Abbey. He was in his element as he talked to stonemasons, carpenters, joiners, carvers of wood and stone, calligraphers, stained glass artists and so on. But one table was without its artist. John Coleman, a wonderful iconographer, was unwell. And he had two gifts for our visitors, which it fell to me to present in his absence. The first was a lovely icon of St Philip. The visit was taking place on May 1, the Feast of St
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Philip and St James. Prince Philip seemed delighted with it. The second was in a little velvet ring bag. It was a miniature which John had written for Her Majesty. (Icons are written, not painted, as they are regarded as prayers). It was a very happy hour. But the best is yet to come. Later that month HRH was taken ill and had to spend a time in hospital. When he recovered, I received a telephone call from Buckingham Palace. Throughout her husband’s illness, said the Lady in Waiting, Her Majesty had carried the miniature icon of St Philip with her every day. Could I please supply the iconographer’s contact details, so that The Queen could send him a message of thanks? When he received that message, John was walking on air for weeks. All of which is testimony to the care and attention given by the Royal Couple to the “minute particulars” of their visits. More importantly still, it is witness to the deep love they had for one another for so many years, and to their shared Christian faith. Our hearts go out to The Queen as we pray for the Duke: May he rest in peace and rise in glory. BRAND NEW SINGLE ADJUSTABLE BED with disabled fittings.Never used.Cost £1200.Will accept £600. Call 01258 880027 ELECTRIC MOTOR 2 phase 10HP, with switch control box. £310ono. 01258 830332 2 MOBILITY SCOOTERS, 4mph & 8mph. £150 each. 01747 854848 PROFILING BED, Good as new, 4 months use £850 07970 910407 SOFA, All leather & mahogany in good condition. Seats 3-4, (L)210cm, (D)94cm, (H)80cm. £4000 when new, offers welcome. 07542 103471 NATUZZI RED LEATHER SOFA, £595. Matching chair, £295. Must be seen. 07588 053555
