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Wrexham’s Nigel Kennedy? Wrexham’s Matthew Harding?

Wrexham fans who wear their heart on their sleeve

No.1 Paul Burrell

Background

Smart, eloquent and debonair, Paul Burrell has recently shot to fame as Wrexham’s No.1 ‘celebrity fan’. ‘Celebrity fan’ isn’t a phrase that 40-year-old Paul particularly likes, but he’s prepared to live with it. Roll over Tim Vincent…

In the local and national press he’s constantly referred to as ‘Di’s butler’. In the aftermath of the Princess of Wales’ tragic car crash, he has become well known. Since Diana’s death, he has become Fundraising and Events Manager for the Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. He also runs big marathons – London, New York – and worships (the word is not too strong) Wrexham Football Club. And for good measure he is Dave Brammer’s official kit sponsor…

Setting

Pryce Griffiths walks by and says: ‘Paul, how are you?’ They shake hands and exchange pleasantries after another frustrating Saturday afternoon at the Racecourse. Paul asks Pryce about the 3–0 drubbing at lowly Wycombe. The chairman says it was just a bad day at the office…

We’re in the Centenary Club – top floor – and Paul is keeping warm after another cold, and pretty depressing, Division Two encounter (this time it’s Millwall: 0-0). Wearing a Wrexham top under his jacket, and wrapped in a large, long Wrexham scarf, Mr Burrell is a Nigel Kennedy-type fan: famous, passionate - but also ordinary and down to earth. There’s also a bit of Matthew Harding in him: a smart and dapper man of the people. ‘Di’s butler’ is also wearing a cap and two rings - and he's also got a mobile phone in his jacket pocket. He gets two phone calls during the hour-and-a-half interview. Busy man.

During the interview several international icons pass by: Brian Carey in a suit with his two daughters; Dean Spink looking tall and cool; Peter Ward and family too. Wardy comes over to have a chat with Paul and shakes his hand. Paul says that Peter is God and when the midfield maestro gets embarrassed, Mr Burrell tells us that Mr Ward is just being modest.

Ward says though that things aren't going well for Wrexham and that he isn’t pleased with his own form, Wycombe away, he says, was probably the worst team performance since he arrived at Wrexham. Nobody was disagreeing. Paul jokes with Mrs Ward and tells Mr Ward that he'll send him a postcard from New York where he’s soon off to run 26 miles in a relatively short space of time.

We asked Paul a series of extremely piercing questions…

Q. What are your connections with Wrexham?

A. ‘I am delighted and very proud to be associated with Wrexham, its community and such a fantastic football club. Wrexham is my adopted hometown. Everyone here has been so good and kind to me. I thoroughly enjoy the relaxed lifestyle – such a contrast to that of London.

I was first introduced to the area fifteen years ago by my wife Maria, who was born and raised in Holt. We originally met at Buckingham Palace, where we were both working. She was the Duke of Edinburgh’s Maid and I was the Queen’s Footman.

We now live in Farndon, actually in England, but only yards away from the River Dee, and Wales.

Wrexham Football Club have been overwhelmingly generous and kind to me. I was proud to wear the club’s shirt - which the team presented to me on my 40^th birthday this year - during the New York Marathon. A man in the crowd actually shouted to me: ‘’Go on Wrexham! - Someone has to support them! ’’ I stopped and shouted back: ‘’I do – with pride! ’’ I intend to wear the shirt again, for the London Marathon in April, so watch out for it!

Saturday afternoons at the Racecourse are the highlight of my week. I can relax, absorb the game, and spend some quality time with my boys and my family who are all devoted fans of the club, with a great atmosphere and camaraderie. It encourages families to attend. Rockin’ Robin is a great incentive for the little ones. Rockin’ has a very bright future – just watch that space! ’

Q. Where are you from originally?

A. ‘I am afraid to say that Chesterfield is my home town. I have been to Saltergate on a few occasions. Chesterfield are our bogey team. I've often had to watch John Duncan's crowd maul the Reds. However, I am looking forward to Wrexham annihalating them when they come to the Racecourse in March. I was born in Chesterfield but I am not a Spireite – I’m a Red! Wrexham is my team and always will be…through thick and thin. The club receives great support from the Evening Leader – and so do I. They have given me support and promoted events which I have attended on behalf of the Memorial Fund. I personally feel that it is time for me to put something back into the community and support fundraising in the area. I have been asked to open the Nightingale House Hospice Christmas Fair in Wrexham and will be taking the Welsh Dragoon Guards and Father Christmas to the Children’s Ward at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital nearer Christmas. Last week I attended a celebrity Masquerade Ball at the Grosvenor Rooms, in Park Lane, which was raising money on behalf of the Fund. The event was exclusively reported by OK! magazine. Many of my friends attended the event, such as Barbara Windsor, Jeremy Beadle, Anthony Andrews and Wendy Richards. All Saints and Gladiators came and Rhino and Hunter were great fun too. My friend Bryan Adams sent his Fender guitar for the auction, which Vinnie Jones bid 5,000 pounds for. What a great man he is – and a very talented actor who has a great future ahead of him in Hollywood.’

Q. Could you tell us a bit about your background?

A. ‘Yes, at the age of 17 I left my school in Chesterfield to attend the Hotel and Catering College in Buxton where I successfully achieved a Diploma in Hotel and Catering Management. The Principal of my College was a friend of the Master of the Household at Buckingham Palace – and through him I secured an interview and eventually a post at Buckingham Palace. The Queen chose me to be her personal footman, where I stayed for 11 years. I lived in Buckingham Palace and my room looked down the Mall. I looked after the Queen wherever she went and wherever she stayed.’

Q. Could you tell us a bit about your job with the Queen?

A. ‘I looked after her personally and attended to the daily routine, from breakfast to dinner. I was responsible for ensuring that her meals, mail and messages arrived on time and for delivering government despatch boxes. I also took care of the corgis.’

Q. Tell us about the corgis!

A. ‘When the Queen was busy – attending a reception or engagements – I would exercise the corgis. The Queen would say: "Paul, would you like to walk the dogs?" So I would put on my wellies and brave the elements – whatever the weather. The corgis and her footmen had plenty of exercise.’

Q. What about the travel?

A. ‘I have travelled to almost every continent with the exception of South America. There were lots of highlights during those years. I particularly remember walking on the Great Wall of China with the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. That was very memorable and an amazing experience. I also remember sailing round the Caribbean and the South Pacific Islands aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. Every morning we used to wake up at a different island and the natives would greet us with their Hawaiian chants. They'd also give us the most amazing farewells. I recall a place called Tuvalu where there are no tourists and the Queen was virtually regarded as God. The local people were in canoes all around us. They'd just had a feast when they'd been eating things like palm leaves, mango, coconuts and monkeys' brains. I didn't have any of that myself, but I did have some fruit, which was really nice. I remember we all waved goodbye to the natives, and I can still see them singing in their grass skirts. It was an unbelievable experience and I can't help feeling I've had a very privileged life. I've seen and witnessed the most amazing things.’

Q. Any other memories?

A. ‘Yes, I particularly remember the State Visit of Ronald and Nancy Reagan to Windsor Castle. Mr Reagan was a very charismatic person.’

Q. How did you get your job with the Princess?

A. ‘I had known the Princess ever since she first visited at Balmoral Castle in 1980 but it wasn’t until I was married and living in the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace with Maria and a small child (with another on the way) that the Princess approached me to work for her. How could I refuse the offer of a 16th century thatched cottage on the Highgrove Estate? I was, of course, reluctant to leave the Sovereign, but it was the best possible solution for my growing young family. Life at Highgrove was idyllic, a beautiful home with roses climbing over the front door. When the Prince and Princess separated, the Prince asked the Princess to compile a list of everything she wanted. At the top of her list was ‘’Paul and Maria’’ – because we were always considered to be ‘’hers.’’’

Q. What about the famous phrase about you being Diana's "rock"?

A. ‘I was humbled and flattered to hear that the Princess called me her ‘’rock’’. I heard this subsequently from many friends. I have to live up to that and continue in a way which would make the Princess proud.’

Q. What are your memories of working with Diana?

A. ‘There are so many: I remember the Emperor's Coronation in Japan and especially the visits to Angola and Bosnia in 1997. These were to be the last official overseas visits which the Princess would make. We visited many small isolated villages and the victims of this hidden tragedy. These people had nothing, but they were so warm and friendly, generous and hospitable. Many had lost limbs – there were no wheelchairs or crutches, and it was very difficult to get artificial legs. I was constantly moved by their plight. These memories will never go away – they are very special to me.’

Q. How would you describe Diana's philosophy?

A. ‘She always did what she could to help people in their difficulties, and she did so much work in this context. This inspires me most of all. She wanted to change the plight of forgotten people. She shone that light into their dark corners. I want to keep doing that, I want to keep going forward. I want to try to help those who are most in need. It is impossible to replace that unique person, but her memory will live on.’

Q. What about her accident in Paris?

A. ‘The crash was on a Saturday night and I was with my family in London, watching a show at the Dominion Theatre - Beauty and the Beast. It was a really pleasant family evening. I'd gone to bed and I had a call from the police saying there had been an accident in Paris. I immediately reached for my mobile phone. Before I knew about the seriousness of the accident I can remember looking forward to meeting her back home in England. I rang her phone so that I could leave a message. There was obviously no message from her and the accident was clearly more serious than anyone anticipated.’

Q. How did you see your role in the aftermath of the accident?

A. ‘I thought a lot about my place and my position at that time. My role had to be as it had always been - to be with her. I was at the end of my two-week annual leave period, on holiday with my family. When I was on holiday the Princess always went abroad. It was an amazing coincidence that the accident took place on the last day of my holiday and her holiday. Her accident had taken place in Paris but I had to be there immediately. I had to arrange what needed to be done. That was my place - even when I knew she had died. It was important for me to be there, to protect her. It was almost more important than it had been in her lifetime. After she died she was even more vulnerable than ever. There is no dignity in death. You have to rely on people close to you to protect your privacy and secrets and I had to make sure that everything was carried out in a dignified manner and in a fitting way. I was the first person from home to get to her side. Obviously, the British Ambassador in France was already there. But by 8.30 in the morning I was by her side. It turned out to be a very long day. Everything was executed in a very proper way and the Princess was protected right to the very end. Her privacy had been respected.’

Q. What about the journey back?

A. ‘I came back with her aboard the Queen’s Flight Aeroplane. I helped with the arrangements before the funeral and I spent the last night before the funeral with the Princess at Kensington Palace.’

Q. How do you reflect on the whole tragic episode?

A. ‘It was an incredibly busy and emotional time and I needed some privacy and time myself to reflect on what had happened. It had affected me in a profound way.’

Q. What has been your role since her death?

A. ‘My current job as Fundraising and Events Manager for the Diana, Princess of Wales, Memorial Fund is a natural progression for my work. My main aim is to coordinate events on behalf of the Memorial Fund. The Memorial Fund mirrors her ideas and in particular her compassion for others. She wished to alleviate suffering in any way she could. Now the Memorial Fund wants to do the same in a way that she would be proud of. It's a small contribution but we want to help people in the same way the Princess helped people and to further that tremendous legacy.’

In the next edition of Red Passion Paul talks more about his job with princess Diana, and also gives his views on Wrexham, the club, the team - and Dave Brammer