Scots butcher shop loved by Royals recalls 'cheery' Queen
Scots butcher shop loved by Royals recalls 'cheery' Queen
Posted on 14 Sep 2022
The owner of a butcher ‘s shop in Ballater, Aberdeenshire has told the Daily Record of his shock at the death of the Queen, who was an often-seen figure in the town near Balmoral.
John Sinclair, the co-owner of HM Sheridan, told the newspaper how he only saw the Queen three weeks ago and recalled her once popping into the shop for a chat. He said the Queen had been in the shop twice, once after flooding and another just to say hello.
John said: "I met the Queen about six times, she's been in the shop twice, after the flooding and when she just popped in to say hello. The last time I met her was three weeks ago, she looked a bit frail but for a lady of 96 that's not surprising.
"She was quite cheery and she had a smile on her face. It was at the castle Highland Games, we introduced a game called Balmoral Stones and got two stones of 35kg each for people to carry 70 yards, one of the stones was engraved with the dates of the jubilee.
"You'd not expect someone to be working at 96, I still find it really hard to believe. The whole village is feeling pretty down. You don't know what the next generation will be like, this area would miss the Royal family if they didn't come back to Deeside.”
"They have done a lot to support this area. Princess Anne comes in the shop regularly wearing a Barbour jacket and jeans.
"I think the Queen was quite low maintenance, up here they were just a normal couple and made their own tea. They are just a normal family as well."