It’s not everyday you get a letter from the royal family.
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But that’s what’s happened to Sanctuary Point man, Wally Bourke.
Openly admitting he is not a “royal” Mr Bourke recently sent one of the historical articles the South Coast Register prints each week in conjunction with the Shoalhaven Historical Society to Buckingham Palace.
Hayley Warden’s article (August 30) covered the visit of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who was in Australia to officially open the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, to the Shoalhaven.
The Shoalhaven and Nowra News reported on the royal visit to the area in its November 27, 1956 edition.
Fittingly, Prince Phillip travelled to the Shoalhaven to visit HMAS Albatross and Creswell.
Mr Bourke received a lovely letter back from Buckingham Palace saying the Duke had seen the letter and the accompanying South Coast Register article.
In a letter from The Duke of Edinburgh’s private secretary, Brigadier Archie Miller-Bakewell, Mr Bourke was thanked for taking the trouble to write.
“The articles and letter were read with interest,” the letter said.
The letter also conveyed Prince Phillip’s best wishes.
“I just sent the article over to the palace as I thought they might be interested,” Mr Bourke.
Read the full story: Royal visit leads the Nowra News
The Duke arrived at Albatross from Canberra aboard a naval Dakota aircraft.
He toured the naval air station and from the control tower watched an air display featuring all types of aircraft in service at the base, from helicopters to Sea Fury, Vampire Jet, Firefly and Gannet aircraft.
He was particularly interested in the Australian Joint Anti-Submarine School and watched a demonstration of how pilots escape from aircraft when forced down in water.
He then flew to HMAS Creswell in a helicopter piloted by Lieut JH O’Farrell and escorted by two other helicopters.
Just weeks after the article was published the area played host to another royal, this time His Royal Highness, Prince Andrew, Duke of York who made a flying visit to HMAS Albatross in October while Down Under.