The Queen Mother came to St Helena Hospice in April 1986

Daughter Lisa, then 22, became the hospice's very first patient on May 20, 1985.

Brian and Shirley met the Queen Mother the following year when she visited on April 11, 1986.

The royal visitor was there to officially open the inpatient unit in Colchester.

Brian said: “Almost a year after Lisa died at the hospice, we were asked to go to the ceremony and chosen to be presented to the Queen Mother.

"It was very nice.

Royal wave - Dr Elizabeth Hall, one of the hospice’s founders and its first medical director, looks out into the garden, which had been transformed by Margaret Farrow and her team of volunteer gardeners

"My wife and I had tea with her. She was a charming lady and lovely.

“I was chatting away and couldn’t stop talking, I was so overwhelmed.

"I always remember I couldn’t praise the hospice enough because of the treatment we had and I wanted to make sure she knew what a great job they had done for Lisa.

“As she was leaving, she recognised me from earlier and came over and I shook her hand again.

"I remember saying ‘thanks so much for coming, we really appreciate it’.

"Then she said goodbye and walked on.”

The Queen Mother gave a short speech to the gathered crowd which was made up of volunteers, staff and invited guests, before unveiling a plaque to commemorate the day:

The royal visitor toured the inpatient unit to look at the facilities and spoke with patients, staff and volunteers.

Dr Elizabeth Hall, co-founder and first medical director, joined her on a tour of the inpatient unit.

She said: "Everybody was so excited.

"It was the beginning of the hospice and that was lovely.

"The other thing was that requests by patients for extra painkillers went right down during that day.

"I think it was the joy of everybody meeting her.”

Press pack - gathered members of the media focus on Susan Willis, part of the hospice's domestic team, as she gives the red carpet a last-minute vacuum

Stories of people involved with St Helena Hospice at its very beginning are being recorded and preserved, along with historic photographs and film clips, for an exhibition and online archive project supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.

To share your story and photos, email stories@sthelena.org.uk or call St Helena Hospice’s marketing team on 01206 931464.

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