Swine flu fear hits Queen visit

[Hogweed]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/8159157.stm

The Queen has called off a visit to a school with famous Royal connections after a suspected outbreak of swine flu among pupils.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were due to open a new sports hall at Gordonstoun School in Moray next week.

However Tuesday's visit was called off after a request by the school's head.

Gordonstoun is famous for its connections to the Royal Family, with Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward among its former pupils.

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Good to know the Queen doesn't have to go to school in a pandemic even though the staff and pupils are forced to.

 

[Hogweed]

Re: Swine flu fear hits Queen visit

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1381312?UserKey=

Chance to see Gordonstoun in full bloom
garden lovers invited to wander the grounds at charity event

Published: 04/09/2009


GARDEN lovers are being invited to wander the grounds of one of Moray?s best-known schools this weekend as part of a charity event.

The gardens at Gordonstoun School near Duffus will be open to the public on Sunday, along with the main house and a historic chapel.

Yesterday the school?s marketing manager, Sheila Lambie, said it was a good opportunity for people to explore areas normally off-limits to the public.

Mrs Lambie said there was a lot for visitors to see including colourful flower beds, an apple orchard and a lake. She said one highlight would be a visit to Michael Kirk, a small chapel in the grounds reached along the tree-lined path known as Silent Walk.

Pupils will also be on hand to answer questions.

Mrs Lambie added: ?It?s a good opportunity to see Gordonstoun in full bloom.

?But also there will be students dotted around the various buildings so they will be able to brief them on the history.?

Tea and strawberry tarts will be available in the school refectory. All proceeds from the event, which runs from 2pm to 4.30pm on Sunday, will be donated to the Queen?s Nursing Institute and the Gardens Fund of the National Trust for Scotland.
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Fine. So the Queen is ordered to stay away and everyone else was told to go. I'll bet it was a "good opportunity to see Gordonstoun in full bloom"...

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Swine flu fear hits Queen visit

That article was Published: Friday 04/09/2009

The article about the visit called off was published Wednesday, 9 September 2009

 

[Farmer]

Re: Swine flu fear hits Queen visit

That article was Published: Friday 04/09/2009

The article about the visit called off was published Wednesday, 9 September 2009

I read it as Sept. 4, 2009.

I thought only American usage suggests April 9, 2009

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Swine flu fear hits Queen visit

I read it as Sept. 4, 2009.

I thought only American usage suggests April 9, 2009

Yes thats right it is 4/sept/09

The article was published before visit called off

 

[Hogweed]

Re: Swine flu fear hits Queen visit

That's correct. The public wandered around on Sunday and the Queen's visit was called off three days later. I think that's close enough to suggest double standards.

However I have to say this surprises me a bit. After all the Queen's husband is also a former pupil of the school and I'm surprised they would accept advice to call the visit off unless things are really bad. And if things are really bad I'm sure that was known or suspected as they took visitors on tours on Sunday.

Unless it's the other way round and the Queen has swine flu. Better not start that rumour though!

 

[Farmer]

Re: Swine flu fear hits Queen visit

Good one!

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Swine flu fear hits Queen visit

Swine flu fears cancel Queen visit


The Queen has called off a visit to a leading private school after a suspected outbreak of swine flu among pupils, a Royal spokeswoman has said.


She was due to open a new sports hall at Gordonstoun School in Morayshire - where the Prince of Wales was educated.
But next Tuesday's visit was called off after a request by the school's head.


A Royal spokeswoman said: "At the request of the principal of Gordonstoun School following a suspected outbreak of the H1N1 virus (swine flu), with regret the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have postponed a visit to the school."
More than 100 pupils have been taken out of classes following the outbreak.


No students have been seriously unwell, said the school.
A statement said: "We are able to confirm that there are a number of suspected cases of students at Gordonstoun School contracting the H1N1 virus.


"Some of these cases have been confirmed but none of the students have been or are seriously unwell.
"At today's date 118 pupils out of a total roll of 603 are absent from classes for health reasons.


"We are now working closely with the relevant public health authorities to ensure that all appropriate measures are taken. Because of this development a planned visit to the school by Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, who were coming to Gordonstoun to open the new sports hall, has had to be postponed."


http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5igePF3IpF7z1CnVFKLPde3meB7wA

 

[Hogweed]

Re: Swine flu fear hits Queen visit

"At today's date 118 pupils out of a total roll of 603 are absent from classes for health reasons.

Wow that's 20% of the children of some of the world's (the school picks who it educates from worldwide applicants) most richest and powerful people absent. They managed to hide that well until this tricky problem with the Queen came up.

Although I have to wonder how many are actually sick and how many have been "pulled" from school "for health reasons" by their well connected and influential parents.