Tribute to HRH Prince Philip

I would like to pay tribute to HRH Prince Philip and offer my sincere condolences to Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family.

His Royal Highness was a great man who was a big supporter of the County of Surrey and will be remembered for his work with young people with the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, the 992 associations and patronage’s he held with a great many charities including, since 1961, the World Wildlife Fund, based here in Surrey, his Military life, work with education and his lifelong service to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. I had the honour of reading the following words at a special service at Guildford Cathedral on the eve of his funeral:

​‘I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year, ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied, ‘Go out into the darkness, and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light, and safer than a known way.’

(text: Louise Haskins (1875–1958) quoted by King George VI in his Christmas Broadcast, 1939)

May he rest in peace.

Shahid, Azeem, High Sheriff of Surrey 2020-21.