Durban - While people across the globe were saddened by the news of the passing of Queen Elizabeth ll, a Durban centenarian will be left with historical memories after she received a birthday card from the queen earlier this month.
Catherine Turnbull, who turned 100 on August 30, received the card just two weeks before the queen died on September 8. Turnbull, born in Coatbridge in Scotland, said the card holds a significant meaning since, according to her, it was the last card the Queen was able to issue out just before her death.
Asked how she felt about being in possession of a card from the queen, Turnbull said: “I cannot describe the feeling. All my life I have always been a royalist. We used to joke as a family that if I got to my 100th birthday, I should get a letter/card from the queen, and to my surprise, the dream came true.
I'm just over the moon to have received this special gift.” She said the greatest highlight about the queen was when she visited South Africa in 1947. “I saw the queen when she visited Johannesburg in 1947. At the time she was still a princess and had just turned 21. I clearly remember my two older sisters taking a 5am train in order to make it in time to Johannesburg. It was one of the greatest feelings ever,” said Turnbull.
Her daughter, Morag Bennett, said her older brother who lived in England had made an application at the royal palace for their mother (Turnbull) to receive a card from the queen.
“My brother applied online for the card with my mother’s passport and 10 days later he got the acknowledgement that she met all the criteria. We were told that she could expect a card five days before her birthday,” she said.
“I guess since the queen’s passing, we have to rethink about what we are going to do with the card, and especially, since she has died it had a greater value,” she said.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE