Tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh from John Redwood
Many people’s lives were touched by the Duke and the work of the organisations he created and supported. Some enjoyed and benefitted from the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. Many met him when he came as a visitor, as he travelled to show interest and curiosity at home and abroad. His energy was spent in many areas from helping young people aspire to better lives, through science and technology to sports and the environment. As a boy I first became conscious of him when he spoke out for better treatment of wildlife. I wanted sufficient wild areas for animals to be able lead their own natural lives free from human interference and was delighted to learn of a powerful force to help bring that about. Later in life I met him in my roles as a constituency M.P. and as a Minister and saw how he supported the Queen and served the nation through charities .
Many have shown their respect for him. We join the Queen in mourning his loss, as she tells us just how important he has been to her own exemplary conduct as monarch.
April 17, 2021
+1. He was an example to us all.
April 17, 2021
Indeed a good man, kind, amusing, hard working and non PC. A nature and environment loving, climate realist. I particularly liked that story about the finger food arrangements at a dinner sitting next to poor Lady Tebbit who was so badly injured in the Brighton Bombing and was initially reluctant to go.
April 17, 2021
Yes he was one of the good guys and we are better for having experienced his presence.
April 17, 2021
RIP
A man much loved and admired and the tribute today from a Lt Colonel of the Royal Marines speaks volumes. The Duke’s last military appointment was with the Royal Marines. He was considered to be one of their own.
The real deal.
April 17, 2021
Unfortunately I have never met Prince Philip but from what I have seen about his life on the TV he was an amazing man and I have nothing but admiration for his work over his lifetime. He didn’t have to do the things he has but he has achieved so much and helped so many people. My thoughts are with the Queen and the whole family today on this sad occassion and I hope that his work that will carry on without him will be of comfort to them.
April 17, 2021
A lovely tribute John. Expressed in a manner that we have come to expect
from you. Thank you.
April 17, 2021
An excellent piece by Robert Tombs today in the Telegraph.
April 17, 2021
Charles Moore too.
April 17, 2021
He was one of a kind.
R.I.P.
April 17, 2021
We can still do a wonderful ceremony.
Goodbye Your Highness.
“I vow to thee my country”.
Tears and rivers of tears.
Oh….what we have lost.
April 17, 2021
And he was against whiners and moaners looking for positive people with a can do attitude.,
April 17, 2021
‘In paradisum deducant te angeli’
May the holy angels lead him into Paradise.
April 17, 2021
Yes, he was a great man, and much admired the world over. I’ve even had some foreign friends send me their condolences!
April 17, 2021
Indeed. Prince Philip WAS our foreign friend.
April 17, 2021
R.IP Sir, your duty is done. We have the watch.
April 17, 2021
Beautiful service and as ever our servicemen and women did us proud.
April 17, 2021
Sir John, why do we have to pay for the BBC? It was painful that Huw Edwards did not know the difference between Ecclesiastes and Ecclesiasticus. I thought I could hear Prince Philip raging. When did it become unnecessary for BBC presenters to prepare properly for big state occasions; this was just laziness as they must have been sent the Order of Service?
Prince Philip’s service that he designed himself without charge 10/10. BBC verbal coverage of the event 1/10. I would not object to this if we were not paying a licence fee.
April 17, 2021
HRH Prince Philip gave a great deal in his life in very many ways but what could he have given had his constitutional position not precluded it? He was descended from rulers rather than constitutional figureheads and had that rare calibre of a man born to rule.
April 17, 2021
He gave many youngsters like me this legacy even if unable to take part in his Duke of Edinburgh award scheme:-
1. Challenge yourself on many levels and dimensions mentally, physically and yes spiritually.
2. Don’t waste any time whingeing, moaning or complaining.
3. Get on with it – as Princess Anne bless her notes too – because
Life is too short and so:
What will your legacy be?
Marvellous Sir! RIP
April 17, 2021
It is so awful that we were forced to remember him in masks. (We stood for the three minute silence at a railway station.)
Let’s hope the Queen does not pass under these restrictions.
This is NOT normal.
April 17, 2021
1 minute silence, sorry.
April 17, 2021
There is another problem here in the ROI now where the government has ordered the flags on government buildings to be flown at half mast- for instance if it was for the English Monarch itself republican Irish might well understand but..but?? and now the question is if President Michael D Higgins passed does anyone here think the flags on UK buildings would be flown at half mast? we don’t think so- anyhow seems to me the people of these islands- the whole people of these islands- are now starting to look for themselves and starting to ask to the hard questions- and about time
April 18, 2021
Shay, what hard questions? You’ve been Independent for over 100 years with very few restrictions unlike all the restrictions the EU have put on the UK.
You don’t want a common travel area with the UK? Rights to votes, rights to benefits you don’t want any of that anymore, OK.
You need to start paying your contribution to NATO? Northern Ireland does, Scotland does, Wales do, why don’t you?
April 18, 2021
The older generation would relate to that as a sign of mutual respect between both our countries despite the problems. Believe it or not there is a shared history of good experience as the late Sir Terry Wogan (Sir Michael Terence Wogan) would have been able to relate in full.
April 18, 2021
If Boris has any sense he’ll give over some of his time next week to seeing how the government can encourage more of our young to do the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme. And no, I don’t want him to waste billions of pounds on subsidies for the ever-growing ranks of the ‘vulnerable’ and ‘deprived’. A photo-opp at some D of E activities would work wonders for take-up.
I didn’t catch as much of the service as I would have liked but it seemed to be one of those events that we, us British, do so well. The use of the Land Rover and the Royal Marines buglers sounding off ‘Action Stations’ were departures from the norm that worked well – partly because they revealed glimpses of the nature and history of a great man.
April 18, 2021
A nice tribute John for a great man. I will miss seeing him by the Queen’s side and reading of his antics.
So sad to see his funeral so restricted and the Queen sat alone in her grief, especially when I read that on the same day London’s Borough Market was full of people shoulder to shoulder. People photographed sitting back to back in outdoor settings, all in the unvaccinated age group.
April 18, 2021
Thank goodness our Queen had some one reliable whom she could trust and confide in, and who would not be afraid to give her his views, and the simple facts as he saw them.
A man of very many interests and with a sharp mind, not afraid to ask the simple but difficult questions to cut through the politically correct nonsense so prevalent today, the Country and the Queen will certainly miss him.
April 19, 2021
RIP – An outstanding individual and loyal servant to this country.