TWO representatives from a York-based friendly society were attending the funeral of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother today .

Adrian Rees, chief executive of the Benenden Healthcare Society Ltd, and Callum Allan, the chairman of its committee of management, were invited to the service.

The Queen Mother agreed to become the society's patron in 1952, having visited the society's own hospital in Benenden, Kent, the previous year.

The society said today its management, staff and members were deeply saddened by the news of her death.

Mr Rees said: "She corresponded regularly with our officers and at Christmas time always exchanged greetings and always took a great interest in the society and visited our hospital in Kent."

He said he had had the chance to meet the Queen Mother when he was invited down for her 100th birthday celebrations in 2000.

"We watched the pageant in Horse Guards' Parade and then went back with a number of people to St James's Palace.

"She was prepared to talk to all and sundry but a number of us felt sorry for her with the parade and all. We felt she was a lovely, elderly lady that was being too willing.

"Prince Andrew was chatting with us and I remarked about this to him.

"I remember him saying she was an amazing lady."

Mr Rees said he felt privileged to have been asked to the funeral.

"It shouldn't be too sad an occasion as she had such a long and wonderful life and it will be nice to have the opportunity to say thanks on behalf of over one million people in our organisation."

- The Benenden Healthcare Society Ltd, formerly the Post Office and Civil Service Sanatorium Society is a friendly society founded in 1905 which supplements the NHS by providing low cost health care for its members (employees of Post Office, BT and civil servants and their families).

Updated: 08:48 Tuesday, April 09, 2002