AIBU to think the RHS didn't need to close immediately and boot everyone out as a mark of respect?

[SurreyMumOfOne]

As a mark of respect to Prince Philip, the RHS have decided to close all of their gardens immediately today. Any people already inside have been herded out. Tickets are incredibly difficult to get hold of because they are so limited at the moment. There are reports on social media of families using it as a place to meet (as permitted) who haven't seen each other for a year now having to leave; no covid safe measures at the exit; traffic tailbacks as people arriving are being turned immediately away. Lots of upset and confusion.

They have also said they will close on the day of the funeral and I have no issue with this.

AIBU to think this is an ill thought through and unnecessary move? Surely there are better ways to show respect? What about respect for the visitors?

Really does seem a crazy thing to do 🤦‍♀️. I think they realise that now 😬

The Facebook page is full of criticism. It seems so bizarre but also sounds dangerous re poor traffic management etc. I think there has to be a reality check that the man was 99 and had largely retired from public life. His death hasn’t really changed anything constitutionally and institutions go ott it will just make them look out of touch.

@JustJustWhy I think that's a very fair point. I guess because they are the public broadcaster?!?

I don’t understand how it is ‘respectful’ to force other people to have to abandon their days out. If the management wanted to show ‘respect’ then surely that’s something for them to do rather than massively inconveniencing their visitors. It was a very high handed thing and unkind thing to do.
Whoever makes these decisions in the RHS is really out of touch.
Think of all the thousands of people who have died before their time this year. Id find it disrespectful to them if people/media/organizations go overboard mourning the death of a 99 year old that undoubtedly had the best medical treatment possible.

That. Especially the second paragraph. People have lost so much over the last 12 months. Lost so many loved ones before their time. The death of a pampered 99 year old, is, in comparison, small fry.

I empathise with those who loved him, but even they would have cause to be glad that he had a long and productive life.

Yes, that's well put @saraclara and the pp you quoted.

Perhaps they'll review their plans but surely they can't now not do the same when the Queen dies?

Interestingly, Kew, which is also a 'Royal' society doesn't seem to have done the same so it's not as of the RHS were following a current protocol.

I’d have sat down and refused to move.

Absolute insanity. I know Wisley and the A3 there is difficult at the best of times. There could have been a serious accident. Plus the insanity of getting a load of people to leave at the same time when we are supposed to be social distancing. Lots of people will cancel their memberships over this.

What is the rhs? Royal horticultural society and if so.. What and where is it? Is this Wisley?

Very irritating to assume we know what rhs is.

Anyway.. If it is something like this then yes.. Very very annoying.. Write and complain..

Absolutely ridiculous!!
The queen maybe but yes at this time of covid.. When members fund the rhs its disrespectful to their members.

That is completely bonkers, I can't believe they did that! Did they give everyone a refund there and then!

Is that BBC complaints link real??

Sprung, yes Royal Horticultural Society. They have a few gardens I think but Wisley is their flagship one.

Yes, they have seriously had so many complaints they have set up an automatic just fill in your email complaints page!

Have filled in for me, DH and my DM who is still seething about House of Games.

@Cuntryhouse

Is that BBC complaints link real??

Yep.

It's ridiculous to enforce mourning on people.
If they want to close as a mark of respect (which in itself I find ridiculous) then they should do so with prior notice, so that people can make alternative arrangements.

@SprungisSpringYaY
Yes Royal Horticultural Society. There are 4 gardens, but I think Wisley is possibly the biggest.

I was at the one in Essex today, we chatted for a while outside the entrance they really didn’t rush anyone - I can’t comment on the other sites though.

I don’t think it was the right call though, just all felt a bit bizarre!

@mineofuselessinformation

I think the clue is in the name? Surely, not closing would have been seen as disrespectful in that context.

The Royal HS online shop didn't close. And the peasant subcontractor workers onsite weren't told to stop work...

This is ridiculous. I would want my money back. Utter rubbish!

I think they probably thought ‘wow I can use this death as an excuse get out of work earlier!’.
People should ask for refunds.

People will get their refunds, but that isn't the point.

The point is the high handed decision that everyone there today should mark the occasion of Prince Philip's somewhat not unanticipated death in the way the Wisley management dictated. On the spot. Immediately.

It was desperately poorly thought through, clunky and completely out of kilter with this nation's changing attitude towards its monarchy.

I expect that the management barely recall all the 'widening access' initiatives the RHS have more or less certainly, expensively undertaken over the past decade, and assumed the Garden was full of elderly, Tory voting, Surrey-village living monarchist wives who'd clutch their chests upon hearing the news.

I wonder if the PR manager will have a sleepless night....?

@Miljea Bravo 🙌

The whole thing (and the BBC coverage) smacks of the 1950s.

Honestly I think he would consider it a ridiculous thing to do and would be quite open about saying so. I shall miss hearing about his antics in the tabloids.

@TakeYourFinalPosition

as we are not in National Mourning.

We are. Operation Forth Bridge. Hence the news anchors all changing to wear black, the grey BBC information box, the constant news coverage.

I still think it’s a strange decision.

Apparently we are in 8 days of mourning

Britain enters eight days of national mourning for Prince Philip – here’s what it means
National mourning will last until 8am on the day after the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral

www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2021/04/09/britain-enters-eight-days-mourning-prince-philip-duke-edinburgh/

How ridiculous

To be fair to the RHS and the staff, they clearly didn’t want to kick people out. There were many elderly people there who were as horrified and upset as the younger families. They said it was a direct order from ‘the palace’ and as it was royal protocol they had no choice. If it turns out someone at the RHS could have made the decision not to close then it’s a disgrace and shame on them. But I fear it shows more about the antiquated ridiculous ‘protocols’ of the palace than it does about the RHS management. This sort of thing has no place in modern society. And yes the road was a complete hazard for those leaving and plenty still arriving who hadn’t got the message.

I was at RHS Wisley today. Luckily on my own with the children. But so many others meeting with older relatives and its school holidays. Such a shame it closed not really int the spirit of DOE and get outside. I think it would have been OK pre covid it's just so much more special to be outside in spring sunshine having fun than it ever has been.

I feel sorry also for those arriving to he turned away such bad planning by RHS as everyone had to book and PLAN.

The mass exodus was awful too everyone moving en masse in one direction.

We hung back on grass until exit queue was non existent as was so bunched up like a ln aircraft boarding.... and then the fun in the carpark also awful... luckily we are on a3 so not the traffic jam onto m25 that looked bad...

Tickets available on sunday FYI