As the nation celebrates the Golden Jubilee, John Pring takes a look at the Queen's interest in disability issues

In the 50 years since Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne, she has touched the lives of thousands of disabled people.

Many of the charities for which she acts as patron work in the disability field. And over the last 50 years, the Queen has visited many of them to meet and talk to disabled people about their lives.

One of her closest connections with disabled people comes through her links with Park House Hotel, a luxury respite facility run by Leonard Cheshire on the Sandringham estate.

After the Christmas service at Sandringham, the Queen and other members of the royal family always stop outside to talk to guests from Park House.

Richard Duggan, who has severe epilepsy and post-traumatic stress from an injury he received serving with the Royal Greenjackets, spoke to the Queen last Christmas.

He remembers waiting outside the church with his wife Elaine. He was wearing a Christmas hat with flashing lights on it.

"As she came down the steps she laughed and said: 'I like your hat.' She gave us such a great big smile. I was so taken aback because people think she is unapproachable. "I said: 'Your majesty, I like your hat as well.' The press photographers caught her laughing her head off."

In 1985, the Queen visited the headquarters of the National Society for Epilepsy to open the Sarcus Dean unit, a supportive housing service.

Annette Russell, at the time the charity's senior nurse manager, says: "I remember her gentleness, trying very hard to acknowledge everybody."

Ali Govani, then one of the new residents of the unit, remembers the Queen talking to him in his bedroom.

He had recently arrived from Uganda. "She spoke to me and said how are you and which country do you come from. She was very jolly and she smiled."

The Queen is also patron of the Stroke Association.

In 1999, she visited Nottingham City Hospital's stroke unit to help the charity celebrate its centenary.

Eoin Redahan, who helped organise the royal visit, said the Queen "spent quite a bit of time talking to patients about the issues and the challenges that they faced and the type of care they were receiving.

"They were very impressed with her knowledge of the issue, but also they felt she was very sympathetic about what had happened to them."

The Queen has been patron of the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) since 1952.
In 1955, she visited its headquarters and in 1968 opened a centenary exhibition.

Four years ago, she attended a celebration of Sir Cameron Mackintosh's 30-year career as a musical theatre impresario, an event that raised more than £100,000 for the RNIB.

Other charities of which the Queen is patron include the Royal Association for Deaf People, the Royal London Society for the Blind, Moorfields Eye Hospital and Cancer Research UK.

She is also a patron of Diabetes UK. Although she has never made an official visit, she is allowing the charity to hold a sponsored walk in the grounds of Sandringham on 19 May as part of its Walk in the Park event.

• 1-4 June The Mall, London SW1, will be the focus of events, including the lighting of the national beacon. Beacons will then be lit around the country.
• A platform for wheelchair users will be set up on the north side of The Mall, with a dropping off point at the western end of Pall Mall. Parking should be available nearby.
• Accessible buses will be operating on their usual routes. There may be some diversions in central London.
• The closest wheelchair-accessible tube station to The Mall is Westminster.
• Transport for London's access mobility line, tel: 020 7941 4600, email: access&mobility@tfl.gov.uk
• Train information, tel: 08457 484950, text: 0845 605 0600.
• Weekend highlights: 1 June, 8pm: Buckingham Palace Gardens, Prom at the Palace. 3 June, 8pm: Buckingham Palace Gardens, Party at the Palace. 3 June, pm: Queen lights beacon in The Mall, fireworks. 4 June, am: Procession from Buckingham Palace to St Paul's Cathedral for service. 4 June, pm: Golden Jubilee Festival in The Mall. There will be events all over the country. For more details, visit the website at www.goldenjubilee.gov.uk.
  

Posted: 27 Apr, 2002