A new documentary on Princess Diana has been released in cinemas today, looking back over the life of the remarkable ‘People’s Princess’.
And learning about the release of The Princess has got us reminiscing about the unforgettable day she came to Grimsby.
One of the proudest moments in our history was when Princess Diana came to open the-then Grimsby District General Hospital in 1983. In fact, it’s believed that ours was the first hospital she had opened in her role as the Princess of Wales, having married Prince Charles two years earlier.
Princess Diana arrives
Many of our staff recall lining the streets and cheering as Diana was driven to the hospital from Humberside Airport. Our hospital had opened just three months prior to her visit, and she was greeted at the main entrance by crowds of well-wishers, as well as nurses, doctors, patients, and hospital staff.
Wearing a smart pink dress and jacket – created especially for her by David Sassoon – she entered the hospital she was presented with a posy from Bethany Deer, six, of Goxhill, who was a patient at the time. The outfit she wore that day is still on display Kensington Palace.
Newspaper reports from the time documented how some of our elderly patients were crying in honour and disbelief after she unexpectedly paused to talk to them on her way to visit the children’s ward and to unveil a memorial plaque.
Retired police officer Alan Henderson, who was Lady Diana’s driver for the day, later spoke of her overwhelming kindness and thoughtfulness. Speaking to the Grimsby Telegraph, he recalled how she had spotted a group of children in the crowd who were trying to get her attention but were not in a good place to see her.
He said: “Diana noticed this and asked me to remind her to go and see them on the way out. We were in the hospital for over an hour-and-a-half but, the Princess still remembered the children on the way out and made a special point of going over to see them.”
Such was the impact of Lady Diana’s visit to Grimsby, that following her tragic death in 1997, we renamed our hospital the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in her honour.
Were you there that day? If so, we’d love to hear from you and see any old photos you may have. You can post them on our Facebook page or email them to sarah.howson3@nhs.net.
