Race was off, but our fleet kept rowing
Tomorrow as you will know is the day when we say goodbye to HM the Queen. Over the past week, it’s been hard not to get caught up in the outpouring of emotion from so many of all ages, religions and ethnic backgrounds. She was loved by so many.
Last week I was due to row 22 miles along the River Thames in the Great River Race with seven friends, including my youngest son, having trained hard for months. However the sad news meant things, quite rightly, had to be different.
At the last minute the race was cancelled so instead we joined 200 other small rowing boats in The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Procession.
It wasn’t a race but we all had to get to the finish before the tide turned, so definitely had to put all our effort in.
The flag that we had was the Union flag with the Prostate Cancer UK symbol on it. Every boat attached a black ribbon to their flag as a mark of respect.
Rowing for a few hours, giving it your all, takes both physical and mental strength and also allowed time to reflect on our great Queen, the only monarch I had known in my lifetime.
I had the honour of being at a Royal Garden Party a few years back where she was in attendance with the late Prince Philip and that is a memory I know my wife and I treasure.
I am sure we will never forget the Queen’s passing, many having watching her coffin go by or paying their respects while Her Majesty was lying in state.
But for me, I will always connect it with the row along the Thames with my friends, gliding by so many London landmarks that are in many ways synonymous with the Queen.
Royalist or not, I hope you, too, use the passing of the Queen as a time to reflect on what you have done and can do for the benefit of others. Because I have no doubt that is what most of the Queen’s life was about. And she set an amazing example. Until next week, Kev
‘‘ Rowing for hours allowed time to reflect on our great Queen