FRUGAL QUEEN MOTHER

VISITORS TO THE QUEEN MOTHER'S HIGHLAND RETREAT WHO ARRIVED EXPECTING REGAL POMP AND ROYAL SPLENDOR WERE IN FOR A SEVERE SHOCK, A FORMER AIDE HAS RECENTLY REVEALED. SHE SPENT AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE ON MAINTAINING THE CASTLE MEY, WHICH HAD FRAYED AND AGE WORN CURTAINS AND CARPETS THAT BECAME INCREASINGLY THREADBARE. AND SUCH WAS HER FRUGALITY THAT SHE REFUSED TO BUY A TV AND VIDEO RECORDER, INSTEAD RENTING THEM FOR HER ANNUAL STAY AT THE CASTLE, ACCORDING TO ASHE WINDHAM, WHO SERVED AS HER EQUERRY AT THE REMOTE PILE IN CAITHNESS, NEAR JOHN O'GROATS, SCOTLAND. HE SAID THAT AFTER DINNER THE ROYAL PARTY WOULD SIT IN THE LIBRARY FACING AN ANCIENT TELEVISION,WHICH ARRIVED EVERY SUMMER FROM A SHOP IN THURSO. 'THE MOST CHALLENGING JOB WAS TO GET THE EQUALLY ANTIQUATED VIDEO RECORDER TO WORK PROPERLY. THIS ACHIEVED, WE WOULD ALL SIT AND WATCH ONE OF HER FAVORITE COMEDIES, WHICH INCLUDED DAD'S ARMY, FAWLTY TOWERS, YES MINISTER, KEEPING UP APPEARANCES AND ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE. IF THERE WAS A HORSE RACE GOING ON WE WOULD BE ASKED TO RECORD IT, WHICH WAS SOMETHING OF A POISONED CHALICE IN CASE IT DIDN'T WORK. IT WAS A PARTICULARLY OLD AND TEMPERAMENTAL VIDEO RECORDER.' WINDHAM NOW CHAIRS THE CASTLE OF MEY TRUST, WHICH MAINTAINS THE LANDMARK AS A TOURIST ATTRACTION. HE IS KEEN TO COUNTER THE PERCEPTION THAT THE QUEEN MOTHER, WHO HAD A PERSONAL FORTUNE OF £70 MILLION AND ONCE RAN UP A £4 MILLION OVERDRAFT AT COUTTS, PURSUED A LAVISH LIFESTYLE. SHE REFUSED TO REPLACE HER COLLECTION OF SIX BURBERRY RAINCOATS, FOUR BLUE AND TWO GREEN, WHICH SHE WORE YEAR AFTER YEAR. THE QUEEN MOTHER WHO DIED IN 2002 AGED 101. SHE FIRST SAW WHAT WAS THEN BARROGILL CASTLE IN 1952, WHILE MOURNING THE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND GEORGE VI. FALLING FOR ITS RUINED ISOLATED CHARM, AND HEARING IT WAS TO BE ABANDONED, SHE DECLARED: 'NEVER! IT'S PART OF SCOTLAND'S HERITAGE. I'LL SAVE IT.' HAVING ACQUIRED THE MOST NORTHERLY CASTLE ON THE BRITISH MAINLAND, SHE HAD IT RESTORED WITH BEAUTIFUL WALLED GARDENS. 'THE DECORATIONS WERE PUT IN BETWEEN 1952 AND 1955 AND I'M LED TO BELIEVE THAT NOTHING MUCH WAS CHANGED AFTER THAT', SAID WINDHAM. 'I REMEMBER SAYING ON ONE OCCASION, 'MA'AM, THE CURTAINS IN ONE OF THE UPSTAIRS BEDROOMS ARE RATHER FALLING TO BITS' SHE LOOKED AT ME WITH A TWINKLE IN HER EYE AND SAID, 'I THINK THEY WILL LAST A FEW MORE YEARS'. THE OLD TV AND VCR ARE NOW ON DISPLAY AT THE CASTLE, WHICH IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON MOST DAYS BETWEEN MAY AND OCTOBER. WINDHAM SAID HIS FORMER EMPLOYER'S PARSIMONY WAS INSPIRED BY THE PRIVATIONS OF TWO WORLD WARS. 'SHE WAS 14 WHEN THE GREAT WAR BROKE OUT AND WAS VERY MUCH ACCUSTOMED TO RATIONING. DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR, WHEN SHE WAS QUEEN, THEY EVEN HAD LINES PAINTED ROUND THE BATHS AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE TO MAKE SURE THEY DIDN'T USE TOO MUCH WATER.'