Yachtie and the Duke bond over love of boats

Centenarian Bill Hursthouse with his framed personalised note from Prince Philip and the card from the Queen. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Delivery from royalty marks centenarian’s milestone with jokes about growing old

The note received by a 100-year-old New Zealand man read just like it was from one Old Salt to another until he saw "Philip" and the monogram of Buckingham Palace.

"Philip" was Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Coming separately in the post to a congratulatory card from the Queen, the framed personalised note was a pleasant surprise for retired yacht racing enthusiast Bill Hursthouse, of the Auckland suburb of Parnell.

It read: "Word has reached me that you have achieved the magic age of 100. I am not sure whether to congratulate you or to commiserate with you! I find growing older a very mixed blessing!

"You can at least look back on the pleasures and rewards of sailing, and particularly of sailing Uffa Fox's 'Flying Fifteens'. It says a lot of his design that they are still going strong after so many years."

Mr Hursthouse said he had "a great card from the Queen with a picture of herself" and thought it odd to get a parcel with a framed note, until he recalled the connection.

"I've raced Flying Fifteens for 44 consistent years - I have now given up - and Prince Philip has done the same.

"Once when I was at Cowes Week, on the Isle of Wight, he was not there that day, but I was allowed to sail Coweslip - his Flying Fifteen."

Prominent at the regattas were Prince Philip, at the helm of Coweslip, and legendary designer Uffa Fox, as crew.

The 6.1m (21ft) two-person keelboat became popular all over the world and more than 4000 have been produced, including two for Mr Hursthouse.

"If you are a Flying Fifteen bloke and you go to Cowes you will meet all the Flying Fifteen people and they will be very hospitable.

"On the occasions I was there we met Uffa Fox and because my friend Harry Bent from Hamilton was good on a piano we finished up being on Coweslip for one race there."

Mr Hursthouse recalls his last major race success was a second place at the helm of Fantail in the 2005 Auckland Anniversary Regatta.

The retired engineer and branch manager of Australasian company Hume Pipe was also a cross-country runner and mountaineer, who climbed almost to the 5199m summit of Mt Kenya, in Africa.

"I was as fit as a flea and it's served me well ... I can walk around the neighbourhood very slowly."

Monarchy New Zealand chairman Dr Sean Palmer said most New Zealand centenarians who received the Queen's letter saw standard wording.

But Mr Hursthouse's additional message from Prince Philip was likely the result of him responding to a call through the sailing network. Dr Palmer said he was not surprised by the tone of Prince Philip's remarks.

"He is fairly jokey and he is in his 94th year. When he turned 90, The Oldie Magazine gave him the 'Consort of the Year Award' and he responded in a similarly humorous style that he appreciated an Oldie of the Year Award." Prince Philip wrote in the letter to the magazine: "There is nothing like it, for morale, to be reminded that the years are passing - ever more quickly - and that bits are beginning to drop off the ancient frame. But it is nice to be remembered at all."