Prince Philip was ‘modern great’ for UK

LIKE many, I haven’t really thought much about Prince Philip during my 60 years.

He has always been there with the Queen but my daughter watched The Crown last year and asked me lots of questions and I took a passing interest.

However on Friday I focused my thoughts after hearing all the plaudits and I really started to realise all the good work he has done in his life: no less than supporting our great Queen through all her years and achievements, seeing us through a peaceful end of Empire period, bringing a family up in their environments, political upheaval, financial collapses, huge cultural change, many periods. It’s never ending.

Of course we hear a few negatives, like the gaffes, but that is just PC correct people, over analysing every word to make news.

My pro career is in corporate sales and when I think of the introductions I have had over the years and the conversations I have had to strike up and lead... believe me, I made a few gaffes.

His ice-breaking chats were a major part of the Elizabeth and Philip brand being so successful worldwide since the 1940s.

He attended 22,000 functions on behalf of the country in his career. Very very impressive.

I love sayings with substance. On Saturday’s boxing coverage, Tasha Jonas - a lovely Liverpool fighter – said: “My grandfather used to say, in life you have three names - 1 the name you inherit, 2 the name you are given, and 3 the name you make for yourself.

Fab, I thought. It made me think of Phillip.

He dealt with those three superbly, especially the third.

And nobody said on Friday and Saturday that he was a “great man”. I would say that he was a “modern great”.

You don’t have to fight wars to be a modern great.

What do your readers think?

JULES PLOW

Bridgend