How They Took The Floral Tributes Left At Althorp To The Island

[Patdwfsyte]

The island grave where Princess Diana was laid to rest was being carpeted in a
million flowers yesterday.
Workers on her family's Althorp estate in Northamptonshire began the mammoth
task of moving thousands of bouquets and posies from the main gate to scatter
them over the spot.
Estate workers backed a tractor and trailer up to the gate, lovingly collected
each posy and placed it upright in the trailer, making sure to keep each
message attached.
When it was full the tractor pulled it half a mile to the ornamental lake, set
in an area known as the Oval in the 550 acres of Althorp parkland, returning 90
minutes later for another load.
Earl Spencer's spokeswoman Shelley-Anne Claircourt said: "The temporary bridge
to the island, used for the burial, has already been removed. The flowers will
be carried across by boat.
"They will simply be placed around the grave, covering the island.
"There is no intention of removing them after the flowers have wilted.
"It's ashes to ashes - they will stay and help more flowers to grow one day
around the grave."
Each load seemed to make almost no impression in the sea of flowers surrounding
the gate - and thousands of people were still arriving with more, placing them
faster than estate staff could remove them to the island.
Press Association photographer David Jones, who was allowed onto the island to
take pictures for all the media, said: "There is a carpet of flowers 12ft wide
stretching across the island, which is 60ft in length.
"You cannot see the grave itself because it is completely submerged under the
flowers. There is nothing to show which is the exact spot.
"The peace and solemnity of the scene really strikes you.
"There was nothing but the rustle of the leaves in the trees, the sound of
ducks swimming on the lake and the birds singing.
"In the far distance was the sound of agricultural machinery.
"It really is a tranquil haven, a place of calm.
"If you had a special place where you like to go and sit for a while and be
silent, it was just like that."
David was rowed across to the island with Diana's brother Earl Spencer.
The earl walked through the ankle deep carpet of flowers, occasionally
crouching to look at individual wreaths, including one in the shape of a heart,
or to sniff a rose.
David said: "He was very gracious - I had no idea that he was going to be
there.
"He said hello and I passed on my condolences. Beyond that he said very little.
"He was very composed when he was on the island and seemed deep in thought.
"I thanked him and was rowed back after about 15 minutes, leaving him alone on
the island."
Earl Spencer issued a statement thanking the world for messages of support.
He said: "I would like to thank all the people from all over the world who have
communicated their grief at Diana's loss to me and my family over the past
eight days.
"The flowers, the letters, the telegrams, all in their tens of thousands, have
been a source of comfort and pride to us and genuinely helped us to mourn her
death.
"The knowledge that Diana's life gave so many people so much can now be
balanced by the hope that in death her legacy will be immortal."
Among visitors arriving outside the gates was 23-year-old painter and decorator
Gary Clark, from Newcastle upon Tyne.
He travelled by train to stay with relatives, then hired a taxi for the on £60
round trip to Althorp, carrying a display costing a further £20.
Gary said: "Diana was my friend. She was a friend to everybody. She was a
friend to the whole world.
"I had to come and say goodbye but I never expected my flowers to go on the
grave. I am so pleased that is where they will end up."
As he spoke two total strangers came up to give him a hug.

[Nick]

On 4 Dec 1997 14:22:43 GMT, patdw...@aol.com (Patdwfsyte) wrote:

>The island grave where Princess Diana was laid to rest was being carpeted in a
>million flowers yesterday.

snip

>Press Association photographer David Jones, who was allowed onto the island to
>take pictures for all the media, said: "There is a carpet of flowers 12ft wide
>stretching across the island, which is 60ft in length.

snip

>David was rowed across to the island with Diana's brother Earl Spencer.

For the benefit of those of us who thought that Lord Spencer was in
South Africa yesterday, maybe you could explain this post for us.

[Patdwfsyte]

In article <34870ae3...@news.spectranet.ca>, cho...@hotmail.com (Nick)
writes:

>
>For the benefit of those of us who thought that Lord Spencer was in
>South Africa yesterday, maybe you could explain this post for us.
>
>

" For the benefit of Mr. Kite.." .we were discussing how the
flowers were brought out to carpet the island at Althorp where Diana is buried
so I located an old post dealing with just that subject. Charles Spencer should
be in England again at this time as he returned with his children to work out
financial business to do with the divorce.

Patricia