{"id":26474,"date":"2022-09-19T22:01:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-20T01:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chmafm.com\/welcome\/?p=26474"},"modified":"2022-09-20T08:46:46","modified_gmt":"2022-09-20T11:46:46","slug":"recalling-the-queen-in-sackville-i-think-she-thought-i-was-pretty-cute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chmafm.com\/welcome\/recalling-the-queen-in-sackville-i-think-she-thought-i-was-pretty-cute\/","title":{"rendered":"Recalling the Queen in Sackville: ‘I think she thought I was pretty cute’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Erin Campbell was only six when she met Queen Elizabeth II, but she remembers it like it was yesterday. It helps that the event was a true family affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in 1984, the Queen toured New Brunswick to help celebrate the province\u2019s 200th anniversary as a province. Sackville was chosen as a stop, and plans were underway for an event at Mount Allison’s MacAuley field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Young Erin Campbell curtsies for the Queen while her grandfather waits to escort her away. Photo: Contributed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Campbell\u2019s father, Bill Campbell, was mayor at the time and the Queen\u2019s organizers asked for a 6-year-old girl to present flowers to her majesty at the ceremony. \u201cI happened to be six, and so I got the job,\u201d recalls Campbell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Campbell\u2019s grandfather, a British WWII veteran, served as her escort, as Mayor Campbell and Erin\u2019s mother Barbara were on stage with the Queen and gathered dignitaries. Campbell recalls her medaled grandfather \u201cwas quite proud to be waiting for me at the bottom of the steps.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Erin’s grandfather, a British WWII veteran, escorted her at the ceremony. Photo: contributed\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There were preparations before the big day. \u201cI remember having to go to Convocation Hall to practice how to curtsy,\u201d recalls Campbell. \u201cI had to go practice walking the stage many times in shoes that I didn’t want to wear,\u201d she says, \u201cto practice how to curtsy and how to properly present myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Erin Campbell doing her duty in 1984 at the Queen’s visit to celebrate New Brunswick’s bicentennial. Photo: contributed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Campbell doesn\u2019t remember the Queen addressing her, but she did put her hand on the young girl’s arm. \u201cI remember going up the stairs and doing my curtsy, and my mom remembers as I’m walking up, the Queen saying, \u2018oh my, look at her now.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I think she thought I was pretty cute,\u201d says Campbell. \u201cShe may have said something to me, but I don’t remember.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A young Erin Campbell leaves the stage after having given the Queen her flowers. Photo: contributed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

These days Erin Campbell is director of Campbell\u2019s Funeral Home, a family business she took over from her father. She is the 6th generation in her family business, which began as a carriage factory before moving into funeral services. The original Campbell Carriage House is now a museum owned and operated by the Tantramar Heritage Trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Campbell says she understands the need for people to come together for the Queen\u2019s funeral. \u201cWhen you have a visitation or funeral, it brings people together, which is what’s happening on a huge scale with the Queen,\u201d says Campbell. \u201cI think that brings some closure and it helps people to talk to other people. That happens here on a small scale, too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listen to CHMA\u2019s full interview with Erin Campbell:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n