Queen ‘brought so much joy to so many’
FORMER Bailiff Sir Geoffrey Rowland said his level of respect for the Queen had only increased as he got older.
When using words such as ‘leading by example’, ‘duty’, ‘service’ and ‘wisdom’, he said Her Majesty immediately came to mind and always would.
Bailiff from 2005 to 2012, he said he had been honoured and privileged to have met the Queen on six or seven occasions.
In one of them, when he was knighted by her at Buckingham Palace in November 2009, he was with the monarch for the allotted three to four minutes.
‘I remember it vividly, as you would,’ he said. ‘We had a conversation about the Bailiwick.’
Another memorable occasion was in 2009 at the opening of the Supreme Court building in London.
The Queen had the ability to put people at ease by asking simple, highly relevant questions, he said, and she was always
balanced and measured in her conversation.
‘Put simply, she was a remarkable person who contributed so much and brought immense joy and special memories to people in so many countries,’ he said.
Hundreds of charities and organisations had appointed her as their patron and her charitable contribution was part of the fabric of British life.
We were currently in not only a period of mourning but of a celebration of accession of the new King.
Sir Geoffrey said he had met the then Prince of Wales three times, most notably on the future King’s visit to Guernsey in 2004.
‘We had a long conversation,’ he said. ‘He was very witty and in good form.
‘I think he will make a brilliant King and he’s certainly had an exceedingly long apprenticeship. I’m sure that he will make a contribution, ably supported by the Queen Consort, across the world.’
