Published: Wednesday, 16th July, 2008 14:00
Prince Charles visits injured police officers
By Alex Gore
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Prince Charles chats to Police Sgt Cheryl Flower (left) and Senior Physio, Kath Lane (centre). Pic by Ed Godden.
PRINCE Charles returned to a police rehabilitation centre this week – 13 years after his first visit.
He was given a guided tour of Flint House just north of Goring speaking to gardeners, maintenance workers, nurses, doctors, patients and trustees along the way.
The Prince first visited the Reading Road centre, which helps sick and injured police officers return to work, in 1995 just seven years after his grandmother the Queen Mother officially opened it.
On Monday he told guests, before unveiling another plaque to mark his latest visit: “I just wanted to say how incredibly pleased I am to have the opportunity to return and visit this splendid rehabilitation centre which I remember from 13 years ago.
“I haven’t forgotten the number of police officers I met and was deeply impressed with what this centre manages to achieve. I was interested to hear the interesting stories of the individuals here.
“We know that what the police officers are having to face on the streets day in and day out is quite remarkable and quite alarming.
“Here is somewhere they come to be repaired and overcome so many of the stresses and situations that police operations bring. The fact that there are wonderful staff here that can put them back together again in just a fortnight is one of the great elements of this centre.
“It’s a real centre of excellence and should be cherished and encouraged.”
He added: “It also costs millions of pounds a year to run this centre and there are no public funds for this. We owe you such a debt of gratitude particularly at a time when it isn’t easy to raise money. About 3,000 police officers were treated here. It’s an enormous number and a great credit to all those here that work so hard.”
During his tour of the centre Prince Charles spoke to various police officers receiving treatment, including Sergeant Cheryl Flower from South Wales Police, who is undergoing physiotherapy for whiplash injuries after being attacked in a cell by a prisoner.
Sgt Flower said: “The Prince was lovely. He asked me how I was and all about my injury. It’s great to see him here. It’s a fantastic facility for us. You don’t look forward to your next visit but it’s reassuring that if you do get hurt that there’s something here for you.”
Treating Sgt Flower was Senior Physiotherapist Kath Lane, who has worked at Flint House for 12 years. After meeting the royal visitor she said: “It’s lovely for the centre to get this sort of recognition from the Prince.
“It’s a great centre as it brings all the treatments together in one place. You can have physio everyday, we have a rehab therapist, exercise classes and a pool. You couldn’t do all that in a day at a private practice.”
Also receiving treatment at Flint House is Det Con Tanya Viol, 38, from New Scotland Yard, who damaged her knee cartilage nine weeks ago during a training exercise but is struggling to get rid of the excess fluid inside the joint. After meeting the Prince she said: “It was a very special moment. There were quite a lot of people in the room so I didn’t think that I would get to speak to him but then he came over and I got quite nervous.
“He was interested in my injury and the treatment I have been receiving and was really nice to talk to. It’s definitely something to tell my parents about.”
The Prince also spoke to ex-patient PC Paul Selby, 49, from Wiltshire Police, who is back on duty having spent two weeks at Flint House in January after he was assaulted outside a nightclub while on duty in Swindon.
PC Selby underwent knee surgery last October but it wasn’t until he completed the rehabilitation at Flint House that he was ready to return to the front line.
He said: “The staff at Flint House gave me physio which helped me back to full fitness. If I had had to do it elsewhere it would have taken months longer. The service here is invaluable.”
Joining the Prince of Wales on his tour of the centre was Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair who said: “There are 130 spaces for officers here at Flint House and over 3,000 have gone through here.
“With the intensive physio they would return to duty faster then they would otherwise do. I’m delighted so many officers want to get back to work as quickly as possible.
“It’s great to have the Prince here. His grandmother was a very significant supporter of the homes and it’s a great privilege for us that the Prince of Wales has taken over that role.”
One of the trustees Barbara Marchant from Woodley was a constable in the Thames Valley Police for 30 years alongside husband David.
She said: “I spent time here years ago. I came here with walking sticks but I left without them. The physiotherapy here is superb and the atmosphere is great as well. The staff are all really supportive from the cleaners and gardeners to the doctors and nurses.
“You come out of here having found out a lot about yourself and life in general.”
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