It was with great sadness that all of us at Penna Homecare learnt of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II yesterday afternoon. For seventy years she had been the leading figure of our country’s social and cultural landscape; a guiding light providing stability and comfort through war, political turmoil, hardship and, more recently, the pandemic. Her stoicism and values of service and duty have resonated with so many of us, it is hard to imagine her not being with us any more.

This loss will be particularly hard felt by many of our clients who have gone through life as contemporaries of Her Majesty. We have always been touched by the warmth and affection they have displayed on the occasion of Birthdays and significant events, like the recent Jubilee. Many of them will be very sad today, and for some time to come. For our part we will look to support them through this sadness.

There is no doubt that our Queen was much loved for being, not only our Monarch, but also someone who represented the best of us. Despite her position as the head of our nation, she never seemed to let it go to her head, understanding that being able to relate to the ‘ordinary’ person was at the heart of her very human appeal. That appeal touched us all and today many of us are sad, but we should also take time to reflect on a wonderful life lived in the service of our country, by someone who will forever remain in our hearts.