His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Lucy Allan Excerpts

Monday 12th April 2021 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Allan (Telford) (Con)]

It is a very great privilege to be able to pay tribute to Prince Philip on behalf of my constituents in Telford.

Prince Philip first came to Telford on a warm, sunny day in July 1972 on one of the 22,000 solo engagements that we just heard about. He came to see our new town while it was still under construction and to meet people who had just moved to a brand new estate known as Brookside. People were so delighted that he had made the effort to see their new town and their new lives, and to talk to them personally. He had a genuine interest in new towns, as we have already heard from my right hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Robert Halfon). When Prince Philip was in Telford, he took the time to examine the plans and model for the new town centre. Importantly, he also wanted to understand what it meant to people to move to a new town and start a new life. There was a sense of optimism that day, and of hope for better times to come. For some, it was a day that they will never forget: they recall Prince Philip’s empathy and openness, and how he made them feel at ease with his humour.

A lifetime of service to others; a lifetime of service to Queen and country—what a remarkable inspiration to us all. I hope that on 10 June, which would have been his 100th birthday, we may be able to attend memorial services across the country to give thanks for his life. My constituents in Telford would very much like to express their deep gratitude for a remarkable life that touched theirs in so many ways, and their deep sympathy with Her Majesty on her loss.