Reflection on going to the coronation of King Charles the III

My name is Daniel Branch and I am a community Learning Disability Nurse working for Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, as part of their Learning Disability Intensive Support Team. The team works with patients with learning disabilities, who are at risk of an unplanned hospital admission or are at risk of being evicted.

On the evening of the 3rd March 2023, I received what has to be one of, if not the most surprising emails of my life - asking if I would like to be considered to attend the Coronation of King Charles III. I felt stunned. I even asked my friend who I was sitting with to read the email in case I had somehow misunderstood it. I might as well have been asked if I would like to go to the moon or to run out that weekend as an England player of some kind.

The experience of going to the Coronation was both an amazing and somewhat surreal experience. There was an excited and anticipatory atmosphere across the city. I was surrounded by a mix of people who I would learn had done incredible things for both their communities and society in general, as well as people who I had only otherwise seen on the television or other media outlets. For someone who occasionally finds themselves having imposter syndrome, it felt a strange group to be a part of at times.

I think the most memorable aspect was the importance that was given to helping people in some way. The Archbishop of Canterbury drew attention to the fact that pretty much everyone in Westminster Abbey at that service had made helping people a significant part of their lives. From formal charity work to ensuring that neighbours were fed and warm during difficult times like the Covid 19 lockdowns; to holding public office and trying to make a local community or even society somehow better. These are incredible achievements and yet equally prevalent was the sense of humility. Not one person I met felt that they deserved to be there, something that I must say did wonders for my own imposter syndrome.

The experience has caused me to reflect on things a lot, partially on those who I would have loved to share the experience with and no longer can. But also on how I got here. This has to represent a significant milestone in the progress that I have been able to make, both personally and professionally. I have Dyspraxia and Dyslexia and still have one of my first school reports, which says that this child is not expected to achieve anything. I could not read at the age of seven and had a speech impediment. This led me to Elleray Park Special needs school, which had a life changing impact on me. I was only able to overcome these challenges because of the quiet and persistent expertise of a range of people, from teachers and physios to friends and family - all quietly changing people's lives and yet receiving no fanfare for doing so.

I have been able to achieve many things because of their efforts from multiple degrees to travelling round the world. Likely influenced by my family, who set such a strong example, I have also been able to help people. Which has led me to my current position, where I find myself doing a job that is somehow simultaneously one of the best and yet hardest jobs in the world. Nursing seems to sing out to those of us who are somehow inclined to always offer a helping hand.

Particularly in the current climate things can feel very tough - how are we going to get through all the work, does it even make a difference anyway? My Coronation experience has brought home just how many people are doing amazing things and just how important that is.

So, keep doing the amazing things that you are doing. I can't guarantee that this will lead to a royal invitation, I can't guarantee that lots of people will notice. But I can guarantee that you will change someone's life, not least your own.