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Royal honour as Prince Charles presents flowers to Canisbay church organist who is still playing after 75 years


By John Davidson

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Mary Edmundson chats to Prince Charles after the presentation at Canisbay Church on Sunday. Picture: Neil Buchan
Mary Edmundson chats to Prince Charles after the presentation at Canisbay Church on Sunday. Picture: Neil Buchan

A church organist who is still playing after 75 years was honoured for her dedicated service by Prince Charles.

Mary Edmondson (89) was left “gobsmacked” when he presented her with a basket of flowers at Canisbay Parish Churchon Sunday.

The Duke of Rothesay, as he is known in Scotland, congratulated her on the milestone and also delivered a letter from the Moderator of the General Assembly, Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, who described her as “truly inspirational”.

Prince Charles was last week staying at the Castle of Mey, which once belonged to the Queen Mother.

Like his grandmother, he attends Canisbay Parish Church when he is staying at the castle and was invited to make the presentation by Rev Janet Easton-Berry.

She said: “Mary has been playing the organ in various churches and denominations for 75 years and started playing at Canisbay Parish Church when she was 81.

“She is an amazing lady and much loved, so we wanted to organise a special surprise for her during the annual royal service.

“I told her at the last minute what was going to happen and the look of surprise on her face was wonderful because she did not have a clue.

“When His Royal Highness approached her with the basket of flowers and Moderator’s letter with a huge smile on his face she was in absolute shock.

“It was so lovely and very, very special.

“He is a very warm and gracious man and Mary held his hand and told him that she started playing the organ when she was 14.

“Prince Charles told her that she must be the most longstanding organist, having played for 75 years and still going.

“The presentation meant so much to Mary and I told her that we appreciated her and we loved her.”

Mary, who lives close to Canisbay, was joined at the church service by her faithful ginger and white long-haired Chihuahua, Poppy, who travels everywhere with her in a tartan carry basket.

Speaking after the service, Mary said the presentation came as a complete surprise to her and revealed that Prince Charles was “quite taken” by Poppy.

Prince Charles, Mary Edmundson and Rev Janet Easton-Berry outside the church. Picture: Neil Buchan
Prince Charles, Mary Edmundson and Rev Janet Easton-Berry outside the church. Picture: Neil Buchan

“I go everywhere with her and I told her that she was going to meet the prince and she licked his hand, so that was nice,” she said.

Mary revealed that she met Prince Charles at Kirby Stephen Parish Church in Cumbria in the 1990s, and when she mentioned that to him he said he remembered the occasion.

Ms Easton-Berry described the Moderator’s letter to Mary as “very warm and heartfelt”.

Dr Greenshields wrote: “It is evident how much the congregation have appreciated your musical accompaniment as you have shared your talents during the past seven-and-a-half decades.

“Thank you for enriching the worship of an innumerable amount of church services over so many years.”

In addition to still playing the organ at 89, Mary continues to work as an artist and she often goes to John O’Groats with Poppy and sells her paintings from the back of her car.

After the service, Prince Charles planted a rowan tree in the church garden to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.


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