News
The Duchess delivers meals on wheels to an elderly Ballater resident
5th October 2008
The Duchess of Cornwall today delivered lunch to a pensioner as she gave her backing to meals-on-wheels for the elderly.
Her Royal Highness, who is known as The Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland, was in Ballater, Aberdeenshire, to mark the beginning of Community Meals On Wheels Week and see the service in operation for herself.
She met representatives of the National Association of Care Catering (NACC), which provides support for the meals-on-wheels service, and 93-year-old local Alexander Irvine.
The Duchess helped carry boxes of Mr Irvine's meals into his house and then spent about ten minutes talking to him while his roast dinner was prepared.
She also gave him a bottle of Barrogill whisky from The Prince of Wales' local Mey Selections range, which helps to support the economy of the North Highlands, and had a glass with him.
Mr Irvine spoke to The Duchess about nearby Crathie Kirk, where he used to be a church elder and met a number of royals.
He described The Duchess as "very nice", and said they discussed a number of issues as well as sharing a glass of whisky.
He said: "I remember her husband when he was a boy, and it was very nice to see her today."
The Duchess spoke outside with meals-on-wheels staff from the local area and further afield.
She was shown how the food is stored, and asked various questions, including where it is sourced from and its nutritional value.
The NACC said the service has previously been offered royal support when, in 1997, the late Queen Mother lunched on roast beef and apple pie delivered to Clarence House.
More than 40 million meals are delivered to about 20,000 of the UK's elderly population each year.
The NACC is concerned at a decline nationally in the provision of meals to vulnerable older people but said it was heartened by today's show of support.
Chair Sue Ullmann said: "We have been researching why there has been this decline in meals-on-wheels, and one of the things to come out is that people's perception of it is quite outdated.
"The technology has changed a lot, and a lot of work has gone into the variety and nutritional content on offer.
"This visit is the best thing that could have happened to us. The Duchess is very interested in the nutrition of the elderly and it certainly showed."