Holt Property development project Lucy, Our Director, Interviewed by Cheltenham College About Meeting The Queen

To celebrate Her Majesty The Queen becoming the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee after 70 years of service to the Nation, Cheltenham College interviewed our Director Lucy Quibell (Holt) about her memories of meeting The Queen at College. I will never forget meeting Her Majesty The Queen at Cheltenham College and having the honour of showing her around this fabulous school. The build-up was very exciting with Christian Gibbs the Head Boy, and myself the Head Girl, being asked to do numerous interviews with the local newspapers, magazines and even the local radio and TV stations. As I had exams up until the day before the visit, it was only when I came out of my last exam and the whole of College was buzzing with police and sniffer dogs, did it sink in what was happening the next day. On Friday 8 November, the day of the visit, Christian Gibbs and I met at The Headmasters House at 8am. We got stopped and checked by the police on the way. Mr Wilkes the Headmaster briefed us on any last-minute matters. At 10 am we were asked to process into Chapel down the wonderful aisle and shortly afterwards Her Majesty The Queen arrived! It was quite a moment. The service was beautiful and the finale was singing the National Anthem, as you can imagine the sound was amazing! We were formally introduced to The Queen in the Library before Christian and I led her on a tour of the whole school. The Queen was very interested in everything about the school. I remember her quoting some Macbeth in the drama lesson, speaking some French in a French lesson and she was very impressed by all of the facilities at Cheltenham College. She was so chatty and easy to talk to and asked lots of questions. She was also very interested in the number of girls at College, as we were still in a minority and what it was like for girls. Brilliant I replied! After visiting the Junior School, the Queen enjoyed lunch with us and on departing she was given three cheers by the whole of College. An extremely exciting day and one that I will always remember. A remarkable lady who has achieved phenomenal success and achieved so much in her life, Her Majesty The Queen.