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‘I think she thought I was pretty cute’: Recalling the Queen in Sackville

A black and white photo of a small girl handing Queen Elizabeth flowers with other adults looking on.
Erin Campbell doing her duty in 1984 at the Queen’s visit to celebrate New Brunswick’s bicentennial. Photo: contributed
Erica Butler - CHMA - Sackville • NB | 19-09-2022
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Erin Campbell was only six when she met Queen Elizabeth II, but she remembers it like it was yesterday. It helps that the event was a true family affair.

Back in 1984, the Queen toured New Brunswick to help celebrate the province’s 200th anniversary as a province. Sackville was chosen as a stop, and plans were underway for an event at Mount Allison’s MacAuley field.

Young Erin Campbell curtsies for the Queen while her grandfather waits to escort her away. Photo: Contributed

Campbell’s father, Bill Campbell, was mayor at the time and the Queen’s organizers asked for a 6-year-old girl to present flowers to her majesty at the ceremony. “I happened to be six, and so I got the job,” recalls Campbell.

Campbell’s grandfather, a British WWII veteran, served as her escort, as Mayor Campbell and Erin’s mother Barbara were on stage with the Queen and gathered dignitaries. Campbell recalls her medaled grandfather “was quite proud to be waiting for me at the bottom of the steps.”

Erin’s grandfather, a British WWII veteran, escorted her at the ceremony. Photo: contributed

There were preparations before the big day. “I remember having to go to Convocation Hall to practice how to curtsy,” recalls Campbell. “I had to go practice walking the stage many times in shoes that I didn’t want to wear,” she says, “to practice how to curtsy and how to properly present myself.”

Campbell doesn’t remember the Queen addressing her, but she did put her hand on the young girls arm. “I remember going up the stairs and doing my curtsy, and my mom remembers as I’m walking up, the Queen saying, ‘oh my, look at her now.’”

“I think she thought I was pretty cute,” says Campbell. “She may have said something to me, but I don’t remember.”

A young Erin Campbell leaves the stage after having given the Queen her flowers. Photo: contributed

These days Erin Campbell is director of Campbell’s Funeral Home, a family business she took over from her father. She is the 6th generation in her family business, which began as a carriage factory before moving into funeral services. The original Campbell Carriage House is now a museum owned and operated by the Tantramar Heritage Trust.

Campbell says she understands the need for people to come together for the Queen’s funeral. “When you have a visitation or funeral, it brings people together, which is what’s happening on a huge scale with the Queen,” says Campbell. “I think that brings some closure and it helps people to talk to other people. That happens here on a small scale, too.”

Listen to CHMA’s full interview with Erin Campbell:

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