THE Queen Mother upheld Christian and Scottish standards.

Yes, even from childhood, throughout her 101 years, she lifted peoples’ hearts. Personally, she made you feel that you mattered. In general she united the nation and an Empire behind her husband, who had become King in difficult circumstances.

From what many would consider a dodgy start, she strengthened the monarchy by talking to many thousands of people. Each would come away having been engaged in an interesting conversation.

She knew personally most of those we see walking through our history books during the 1930s, 40s 50s and 60s. I was fortunate enough to experience this at first hand.

During the war, by her own example, she encouraged the dispossessed to be positive, the idle to work, the wasteful to save, the selfish to share, the mean to give. She understood the value of her support to society as a whole and her own family in particular.

This example was copied at that time by most other women. What a generation that was! They fought two world wars. They cared about freedom and democracy, many of their sons and husbands paying the supreme sacrifice.

The Queen Mother, full of character, gave wartime women a role in society. Through her example, they set the standards and supported all attempts to achieve them, especially by their husbands, families and friends.

With the Queen Mother goes the leader of a successful generation which leaves the world a better place. There is more freedom of thought, there is more religious tolerance, there is less poverty and the wild European nations, which were such a threat to us, have been tamed.

Thank you Queen Mum!

Edwin Boorman, chairman of the Kent Messenger Group

Our tribute to the Queen Mother and her long connection with the county is given in words and pictures on this website as The Queen Mother in Kent.