Poilievre and Local Residents Bid Farewell to Princess Anne
On the evening of November 11, 2014, Democratic Reform Minister Pierre Poilievre, MP for Nepean-Carleton, joined local residents Audrey Renton and Allan Haan to say farewell to Her Royal Highness Princess Anne following her visit to attend this year’s National Remembrance Day Ceremony.
Audrey, a resident of Kars and one of the last remaining war brides in Ottawa, was given the honour of presenting a bouquet of flowers to Princess Anne before her departure.
She briefly spoke with Princess Anne and reminisced about her hometown in the ancient parish of Tynemouth, Northumberland. She also recalled her historic role as a Guard of Honour for Queen Mary, the great-grandmother of Princess Anne, while serving at RAF Bridgnorth in 1941.
As a Sergeant with the Royal Air Force for five years, Audrey was responsible for the physical training of air women. She came to Canada in July 1946 and arrived at Pier 21 in Halifax, alongside 400 other war brides and her then ten-week old baby.
For many years she has been the military researcher/writer at the City of Ottawa Archives at the Rideau Branch in North Gower. She also volunteered with the Anglican Church, and organizations like the Kars Women’s Institute, the Kars Recreation Association and the Manotick Legion.
In 2013, Minister Poilievre presented Audrey with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal to honour her military service to Canada.
Photo caption:
Democratic Reform Minister Pierre Poilievre stands alongside Ms. Audrey Renton, one of Ottawa’s last war brides, and Manotick Legion member Allan Haan, as they bid farewell to Her Royal Highness Princess Anne at the Ottawa Airport.