It was a busy day for staff and patients at Oxford Children’s Hospital when the Queen visited for the official opening in 2008.
The hospital, part of the John Radcliffe Hospital site in Headington, had already been opened, following a major fundraising drive backed by the Oxford Mail.
But Her Majesty wanted to officially open the new West Wing, including the children’s hospital, by unveiling a plaque and talking to staff and patients.
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Twelve-year-old Libby Turner made a special return, six months after being told she was in remission from bone cancer.
Libby, a pupil at Bartholomew School in Eynsham, was chosen to give a posy of flowers to the Queen during the official opening of the £135m West Wing.
Before the presentation, Libby, from Standlake, near Witney, said: “I feel nervous but excited to be meeting the Queen.”
Libby and her parents were among patients and staff greeting the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip.
Libby was introduced to the Queen with mum Rebecca Turner, 46, a matron in specialist surgery in the West Wing, and dad Mark, 49.
Mrs Turner said: “Libby has been in remission for six months, and for the past year I have been working here and virtually living here.
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“The staff here are brilliant and the facilities are brilliant - the resources are exceptional.”
On Kamran’s Ward, the Queen met staff and young patients including Duckworth Amavih-Mensah, seven, from Milton Keynes.
His mother Mabel said: “He was diagnosed with leukaemia in January, so he has been having chemotherapy. He was very excited to meet the Queen and wanted to know where her crown was.”
The West Wing and the children’s hospital opened in January 2007 but the official opening of the new wing was saved for the Queen’s visit.
The £30m children’s hospital was funded with £15m from the NHS, with the remainder of funding raised by the community - aided by an Oxford Mail campaign.
The Duke of Edinburgh visited integrated theatres in the West Wing, where he was shown the benefits of new operating theatre technology for adult surgery.
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Earlier in the day, the Queen, wearing a matching burgundy hat and coat, and the Duke were at Oxford University’s Magdalen College.
Each year, hundreds of runners take part in the five-mile OX5 Run around the grounds of Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, to continue to raise vital funds for the children’s hospital.
This year’s event, the 20th, was the first back at the park since 2019, and it raised £72,000.
Fundraisers staged their own events in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Many taking part this year were families who have experience of the hospital’s services, and the run was boosted by hospital staff from across the NHS trust joining in to complete the run.
The 21st OX5 Run is now being planned - if you are 10 and over you can take part.
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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.
Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF
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