Peterborough Thorpe Hall nurse's pride at representing hospice at Queen's funeral

A Peterborough nurse has spoken of her pride at representing Thorpe Hall Hospice at The Queen’s funeral.

Sophie Brew, Ward Manager of the Inpatient Unit at Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice, was invited to attend The State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II to represent Sue Ryder, for whom The Queen was Royal Patron since 1993.

“When I found out that I had been invited to attend I felt really overwhelmed,” Sophie said. “I felt an overwhelming sense of pride for our charity being asked to attend. I felt nervous as it is such a momentous event and I felt sadness too at what I knew would be an incredibly sad occasion.

“I have not really had a chance to process it all really. I received the invitation at the weekend, travelled to London for The State Funeral Service on Monday and when I woke up Tuesday it was straight up and back to work. I haven’t even had the time to tell my colleagues about it! I need time to really appreciate what has happened.”

“We will remember this for the rest of our lives”

Sophie took her seat with other representatives of charities who were invited to the Westminster Abbey funeral. She said: “There was lots of talking when we arrived and were ushered in to sit down. We were getting to know each other and sharing our stories. We all said how surreal it was, how fortunate we were and how we would all remember this for the rest of our lives.

“As world leaders began to walk in it became quiet. And then as members of the Armed Forces marched in and stood down the aisles we could hear the Procession outside Westminster. As the Procession came closer, the pipe music and drumming became louder and inside Westminster Abbey silence fell as we all reflected on what was happening outside.”

"it was a family’s grief and we mourned with them.”

Sophie said the event had been an emotional one. She said: “When everyone sang the national anthem at the end of the service the power people put into singing gave me goosebumps. It was so moving. It was the first time I had sang the words ‘God Save The King’ and it was so emotional.

“Then seeing the Royal Family following the Coffin outside Westminster Abbey it really hit me. It was the realization that yes she was Our Queen, but she was the Royal Family’s mother and their grandmother.

“At that moment I saw more than a grief for Our Queen, it was a family’s grief and we mourned with them.

"“In the years to come I will tell my children and grandchildren just how honoured and how lucky I was to be able to be a part of this. I will also share with them just how much The Queen did for our generation. Our Queen was always there for us and it was a huge honour to be there at her funeral.”