WIndsor Castle and an Old Friend

Forty-three years is a long time. I hadn't seen Terry Robertson since then. He was baptized the week before I was transferred. I taught him twice a week for almost six months. It was a miracle when he fasted, prayed, and made the decision to join Christ's church on the earth.

But I'd lost contact. I knew he lived on Woodbury Hill in Luton, but that was it. I wasn't sure if he had moved or what had become of him. Talking to elders at Zone Conference I heard that he may be in the bishopric, but they weren't sure. I sent a text to the current bishop of Luton but hadn't heard anything back.

I was at the temple, helping support the youth at a regional temple event called "The Temple Takeover." I sat across from another senior couple handing out snacks and water bottles to about 200 overheated youth as they ran around the temple grounds discussing spiritual ideas until it was their turn to go do baptisms. During a lull, I turned to Sister Herriot and told her how I'd been struggling to get ahold of Terry Robertson.

"Robertson, you say?" she said. "There is a Cliff Robertson in our ward. I'm going to call him and see if he is related."

Two minutes later she handed me the phone. "Hi, I was a sister missionary in Luton and taught Terry Robertson."

His voice sounded so happy. "He is my father. Since he was baptized he never looked back." Cliff proceeded to tell me that Terry had four children, three of whom lived and were all faithful. He had served as bishop twice, in the Stake presidency, and served with the young men. "You've changed all our lives forever, thank you!"

I got Terry's number, and we finally connected and arranged a day to meet. That WAS a miracle!

Now I know that Terry's great choices had little to do with me. Many missionaries teach perfectly, but their friends aren't ready to adjust their lives. I was just so thankful to be part of his story and to be Terry and Katrina's friend. They are incredible people!

Funny, on the way to Luton we passed through SLOUGH. Now a slough (rhymes with "cow") is a swamp or muddy place and serving there was difficult. Greg and I both served in Slough as young missionaries and hoped to remember something about the area. We drove around a little depressed about how little we could recall. It had grown and changed so we couldn't even find our old apartments.

Luckily, there was a place we did remember. Slough is very close to Windsor Castle, and we took a slight detour. I've found that I've been often disappointed by the changes I've seen but the little town of Windsor was as delightful as it was then with little antique shops, odd bookstores and cafes. I felt like I was back in the Britain I remember. Then we headed to Windsor Castle on the Thames.

There is a river tour there that had attracted hundreds of swans. I've never seen so many.

Sadly, we both sort of toddle when we walk. Since I had bursitis last year, I can't quite get rid of my limp when I walk too far. Greg isn't much better so the guards actually grabbed us and let us forgo the lines. They led us ever so politely into the exit doors so we could enter right into the castle without the hour-long wait. 

Though we couldn't take pictures inside, it was as magnificient as I remembered. And, if you look closely, you can see a royal guard in the courtyard. 

Funny, Greg walked around the castle as a young missionary but never went in. It used to be free, if I remember correctly. That is no longer the case. It was the cost of two very nice dresses but completely worth it! Even Greg who HATES museums was amazed by the huge dinner table that sits about 60 people and the hall of heraldry that had all the coat of arms of all  the families that supported the monarchy over the years. 

Although we didn't find them among the hundreds displayed, we do have coats of arms in both the Edwards and Thackeray families...

I want to do more family history. Oddly, since I've been in London I've learned the Edwards line only goes back as far as the pilgrims in Connecticut/New York. Sadly, I'm hoping to find the English connection to the Edwards while I'm here. Poor Thomas Edwards is not connected to his parents... yet. That's a miracle I'm waiting for.

So, after a brilliant afternoon at Windsor Castle we headed up to Luton.

After not finding our flat in Slough, my confidence in my memory was shaken. I wasn't sure of the road I lived on, but I was certain of the road Terry and Katrina lived on because I had been there so many times it was stuck in my head.

Although we planned on seeing my friends at church and afterwards having dinner at their house, I wanted to drive around the area that had meant so much to me in the past. As we drove up to Woodbury Hill, there was a woman getting out of her car that was a spitting image of Katrina forty years ago. I said to Greg, "I know she's young, but that could be Katrina." I didn't think much about it, until I got a call a few minutes later. 

It was Terry who asked, "Are you on our street?"

"Yes!" I said a little surprised. The woman I saw turned out to be their daughter, Becky. Terry invited us to supper at a carvery called the Moat House, a thatched roof inn from the 1600's. I can't begin to tell you the joy of seeing him and Katrina again. We laughed and giggled and cried a little as we talked about the years between, raising children, both losing a loved son, and the whispers across the veil that makes us feel secure we are families forever.

It was wonderful to feel the unity between us. To feel their faith in the same truths I know. Though we hadn't seen each other for years, we were as close as if we had met every week at church, as if we had worked and played side by side. I was reminded of the scripture in Moses 7:18 which said "the Lord called his people Zion because they were of one heart and one mind and there were no poor among them." That sort of togetherness and love makes you feel so safe in their presence. Terry and Katrina and their children are "Zion" people. There are so many other great people I know who are also part of "Zion." I'm so grateful for the gospel that brings us together and am certain we will be friends forever.