HELEN Barkby was just 10 years old when she presented a posy to Diana Princess of Wales at the opening of a new extension at St Catherine's Hospice near Preston.

Now aged 14, she says she will remember January 13, 1993, forever, and says for her Diana was a 'people's princess' long before she earned the nickname. Helen, a pupil at Parklands School, Chorley, said: "Her kindness appealed to me straight away. She was such a lovely woman, and a normal person. It's tragic what has happened. When I found out I cried. There'll never be anyone like her again. I'm extremely proud to have met her. I've still got all the cuttings from the paper and they're more special to me now than ever before."

Diana had a lasting effect on all who met her.

Helen's father medical director Grahame Barkby described her: "She understood the human condition, people's thoughts, people's emotions."

He said she would have made a wonderful doctor: "Matron would have given her a job immediately," he smiled.

Diana proved a big boost to all the patients and insisted on meeting them alone on a one-to-one basis.

Auxiliary Carol Wastell said: "She sat with a lady here for a quarter of an hour, just talking to her. And then she gave her a bunch of flowers."

Staff and patients at the Lostock Hall hospice say they are at an all-time low this week and are eager to share their grief. A special tribute to Diana has been set up with the official photo they received after her visit and a candle is constantly burning in the chapel. Staff, visitors and patients alike are encouraged to visit the chapel to pray, write a message in the book or simply reflect.

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