LETTERS: SAD FUNERAL AND JOYFUL MEMORIES

To the editor:

The recent death of Princess Diana brought a particularly poignant sadness to my wife and me, because the year in which Prince William was born was the year we planned to visit Wales and England with another couple who were very dear friends of ours. Since my name was also William and I was also of English descent, I wrote a letter to the queen of England telling her of our excitement about the upcoming trip. The queen was kind enough to reply, stating that she received our letter and sincerely hoped we enjoyed our visit to England and Wales.

Our friends met us at Heathrow Airport in London, and we spent two days exploring London: St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and all the important landmarks of London proper. Our friends had even arranged for all of us to see the original London production of "Cats."

After two days in London, we rented a car and drove to the home of our friend's mother in Wales, which was used as our base of operations during our two-week stay. Of course, those two weeks went far too quickly, and it was soon time for us to leave Wales. Our last night in that small Welsh town will never, ever be forgotten. They had planned a farewell party for us at the Organ Club (a club where all the members are amateur organists). We were their guests, and they went all out for us. They sang a Welsh song, "We'll Always Keep a Welcome in the Hills Until You Return." And, needless to say, we sat there with tears streaming down our faces. The emotions were as if we had known these delightful people all of our lives instead of for just a few days.

Throughout the past years we have traveled extensively in Europe. We keep going back to England, Scotland and Ireland as if we were going back home.

As we watched the funeral of Princess Diana, our minds went back to that wonderful time in England and Wales. I can still feel the ancient, cool limestone inside Westminster Abbey, and I can shed a tear with a great deal of sympathy for not only the British, but for all of the millions the world over who love and grieve for a true princess and a true humanitarian.

WILLIAM H. NEEDHAM

Cape Girardeau