Moller jogs Duke’s memory

Press, 30 July 1986, Page 48

Moller jogs Duke’s memory

KAREN NIMMO

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NZPA staff correspondent Edinburgh It is nearly 20 years since the Duke of Edinburgh told Lorraine Moller 800 metres was "a long way for a girl to run”. When the New Zealand marathon champion reminded him of his words at an Invitation lunch yesterday, the Duke chuckled. “Lorraine,” he said. “You’ve come a long way.* Moller, aged 31, was first presented to the Royal family as a 14-year-old schoolgirl at an inter-secondary schools athletic meeting in Hamilton. She was the only girl in the group. “I remember exactly what he said,” said Moller. “I’m sure he didn’t, but I think he enjoyed hearing about it today.” Moller, who was seated next to Prince Philip, and a smallbore rifle shooter, Stephen Petterson, were chosen from the New Zealand team to attend the lunch. The navy-jacketed Duke was a “colourful character”, Moller said. And Prince Edward, at the next table, was “very jolly”. He had a ready laugh for everything. The Queen, who sat at the third table, “seemed a bit more reserved”. The Duke, who didn’t eat much of the stuffed turkey and scalloped potato lunch, chatted to Moller for more than an hour. “He’s very friendly, and he seems to be interested in more than just small-talk,” she said. The conversation, which inevitably drifted to sport, diets and training, finally moved to the Duke’s latest interest — carriage racing. He said he had “a few too many official engagements” to put much time into training, Moller added. O