Date: 16 September 2022
We continue our tributes to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II from across the diocese with this reflection from Sir Edward Crew QPM DL. Sir Edward is a former Chief Constable of the West Midlands who lives in the diocese.
"I had the good fortune to meet many members of the Royal Family during my police service. Whilst I was in the West Midlands I had many opportunities to speak with Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh during their numerous visits to the region.
I was struck by Her Majesty’s ability to maintain a smile and find an appropriate word for people in whatever group she was visiting and her willingness simply to keep going. This was exemplified on a visit when she arrived in Birmingham where I met her at 10.30 am.
Throughout the day, we visited various locations in the City and in Solihull where, as usual, she was met by enormous crowds. Her Majesty had a brief break in the late afternoon to change clothing and we were off to a Royal Variety Show at The Hippodrome in Birmingham. These events last much longer than the excerpt on TV! I said good night to Her Majesty as she boarded the Royal Train at 1.45am the following morning at Birmingham International. She was still smiling!
It was a great honour, in 2001 to have my knighthood bestowed and presented by Her Majesty."