Bracknell Forest Mayor Jennie McCracken and consort Iain McCracken with Marie West, Audrey Crooks and Sue Bickerstaffe
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Royal aide reveals Prince Philip's naughty side
By Becky BarnesJune 15, 2012
A pensioner who lives at Pinehurst Care Home in Dukes Ride sent telegrams to people celebrating milestone birthdays and anniversaries for 24 years on behalf of the Queen.
Audrey Crooks sent out thousands of greetings and only once made a mistake.
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She said: “I sent a diamond wedding telegram to a chap who had turned 100 – I went round to see him to apologise but he thought it was very funny.”
Audrey moved to Bracknell from Nottinghamshire in the 1950s with husband Len and worked at Windsor Castle and then Buckingham Palace.
She said: “The Royal Family were all very nice and I would often meet them in the corridor.
“Prince Philip was very naughty – the things he would come out with were funny.”
The 85-year-old added: “I saw Princess Diana when she first appeared on the scene and she visited with her brother – she was very pretty.”
In her bedroom Audrey has a signed photo of the Queen and Prince Philip and a painting she was given when she retired.
She also has the Royal Crest on each pension slip.
Audrey, who has a disabled son Anthony who lives nearby, celebrated the jubilee by taking on the role as resident queen at the Pinehurst Care Home Diamond Jubilee party.
She said: “I had my hair done specially and wore a crown.”
Two residents at Pinehurst have received a telegram from the Queen – one is 100 and another is 102.
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