A legacy of service and integrity

As a Trust we are deeply saddened by the news of The Queen’s death last Thursday. I have found the many tributes to her incredibly powerful and moving. What strikes me is the way in which she was held in such high regard by some many different people, people from diverse backgrounds, with different worldviews and cultures. She truly served her people, those of all faiths and none. She understood the way in which people with often contrasting worldviews can come together, to bring hope, to challenge injustice. What an incredible legacy this is.

Overwhelmingly she had a servant heart. Servant leaders value people for who they are. Servant leaders put others first, they are humble. Servant leaders listen because they want to learn from others, they seek to understand and discern. Servant leaders are dependable, and display kindness and concern for others. The Queen demonstrated these values and qualities throughout her life, often in extraordinarily difficult times. She was steadfast, constant, and utterly dedicated. In this, she was an inspiration to us all. I hope that I can in some small way emulate this dedication and servant heart, not only my professional life but in my personal life too.

The Queen’s servant heart is one that we as a Trust strive to share too. We aim to be responsive, generous, and available to all our partners. Over the last year we have been challenged as a Trust to consider the question, how can we best serve our community? I imagine this might have been a daily question the Queen asked herself, how can I best serve my people today? The outpouring of love and tributes in the last few days demonstrate how she touched so many over so many years through her daily service.

The Queen was someone with incredible integrity. A value which is sadly not seen frequently in public life these days. The Queen was kind, dependable and trustworthy in the way she fulfilled her role. I believe that we must learn from this. Integrity must lie at the heart of what we do and how we engage with others in our personal and professional lives. As The Queen so clearly demonstrated, these values will bring people together for the good of our communities.

So, as we embark on this new term, with a new Prime Minister and a new King Charles III, I shall particularly keep the values of service and integrity close to my heart and remember The Queen as a woman who devoted her whole life to the giving of herself to others.