True story

The story you are about to hear is true, believe me, every single word and sentence of it.

My wife and I  were having a late brunch at our house one early evening, with two of our granddaughters, who are now young ladies and both working with good jobs. They still come and see us when they can, which is a lovely thing when grandparents  get older.We had just eaten and were still sat around the table talking. It was at that time of the year when royal events were in the headlines and we were,discussing the royal family and recent world reports following the recent death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

We talked at Length about the royal family and both girls were quite impressed when my wife Marie said quietly that she had shaken hands and talked with Princess Diana. The girls gasped and both said together “ When,  Where?” Marie smiled and explained that she had met her when Diana and the then Prince Charles had visited Teesside in March 1987. The visit had been  to officially open Tokaram Polymers Ltd in Thornaby. This was the first manufacturing plant of any kind to be established in the UK by a Singapore based company. and was a historic moment.

Marie had been standing in a line of people outside the factory with one of her sisters, who had brought her daughter, our young niece. Standing patiently in line, our niece had given the Princess a posy of flowers.

Marie went on to say that the Princess of Wales was as stylish as ever and had been wearing a checked black and white coat with velvet collar, cream scarf and black suede boots.

The Princess had later said in the press that she had been worried about the little girl (our niece) who had been waiting in the cold to present her with a posy whilst just wearing a short sleeved dress.

Marie concluded her story by saying that if she had lived, Diana would have been the Queen of Hearts as all the people were so in love with her. Marie then looked at me and said.

“Are you going to tell them your experience and whom you’ve met who is famous then?”

Our granddaughters leaned forward in anticipation of whom I had met.

I looked down at the table, sighed, put down my cup of tea and then said “ well it wasn’t the queen of hearts that I met it was somewhat and someone quite  different.

I told the girls my story, speaking very slowly whilst also,waiting for reactions.

I had joined an engineering company as the MD and had won a lot of work in the Middle East and Africa. To my surprise, I was invited,to lunch by the UK International Export body to meet their newly appointed UK Special Representative for International Trade and Investment. We were meeting at Teesside,Airport and he was due to arrive with his entourage by helicopter.

The noise of the helicopter was heard even in the enclosed board room in which we were all sat. The UK Special Representative duly arrived fifteen minutes later and the double doors were thrown open. I actually thought at the time that he marched into the room followed by his staff.

.

All those present were introduced to him with many firm handshakes. I found this difficult whilst also holding a glass,of wine and a vol au vent with the other hand. It was a typical business lunch boring and unimaginative.

So what was he like the girls asked me ?

I sighed. He obviously had a military background and was impressive. He was knowledgeable, very lean and tanned and had been briefed who I was. He also knew about my company and what we were doing.

The total meeting and  lunch only lasted about 40 minutes then he was away agin in his helicopter - to the nearest golf course I was told.

So who was he the girls clamoured for me to tell them ?

He was Queen Elizabeth’s second son Prince  Andrew I replied.

The girls looked at me and a heavy silence ensued around the table.

Ughh they showed their fists in for the man as rumours were circulating at that time about his sordid past.

Marie and I looked at each other and the conversation was then quickly changed to another subject…

OFB