Congratulations to Helen Hockey, Emsworth Museum steward, and one of the recipients of this year’s Royal Maundy gift of coins. Helen is organist at St James’ Church and has been a church organist for more than 50 years officiating at weddings and funerals as well as regular church services. She and her friend, Chris, travelled to Worcester Cathedral for this year’s Maundy Thursday Service on 28th March.

Helen was one of 75 men and 75 women chosen from around the United Kingdom to receive a monetary gift from Her Majesty the Queen on behalf of His Majesty The King. Maundy Money is presented in recognition of exemplary Christian service to church and community over many years. Helen started learning the organ while at Sherborne School for Girls and honed her craft in Yeovil before spending over 20 years as organist at Rowlands Castle followed by 30 years in Emsworth. She has played locally in various churches and for different denominations.

Atrocious weather outside did not diminish the welcome received inside the Cathedral by Helen as she took her seat in the South aisle. The distribution of alms and the washing of the feet on the Thursday of Holy Week are of great antiquity. The Royal Maundy can be traced back in England with certainty to the 13th century. From the 15th Century, the number of recipients has been related to the years of the Sovereign’s life. The gift is in two parts. The red pouch contains a nominal amount for clothing and provisions. This year it was a £5 coin with the Tudor dragon emblazoned on it as well as a 50 pence RNLI token to mark the 200th anniversary of the lifeboat institution. The white purse contains silver pennies, twopences, threepences and fourpences, as many pennies as His Majesty King Charles has years of age. All are legal tender. Thankfully, the washing of feet was discontinued in 1730 but the Lord High Almoner and his assistants still carry linen towels in remembrance. The alms are carried on medieval platters by Yeoman of the Guard.

Although HM King Charles III could not be present in person due to his cancer treatment, he video recorded the First Lesson which was taken from the Gospel according to John, 13.1-15, and addressed the congregation.

Helen is not the only Emsworthian to be honoured for their Christian service to both church and community. Two years ago, Emsworth Maritime & Historical Trust member The Reverend Barbara Hammond was presented with her Maundy gift at the Chapel Royal in Windsor by the then Prince Charles. Twenty six years ago, Alfred Herbert Martin received his Maundy coins from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Portsmouth Cathedral. Following that memorable day he made an Oral History tape for Emsworth Museum which is available on the Museum HERE. Memorabilia of the presentation can be found in the Museum research room.

Emsworth Museum April 2024