The Earl and Countess of Wessex visited the North London Hospice in North Finchley yesterday afternoon as part of the unit's tenth anniversary celebrations.

The couple met with staff, volunteers and inpatients at the Woodside Avenue hospice and were shown photos from their recent Jubilee street party, as well as paintings by patient Ahmed Abdlsaheb Almoula.

The Iraqi asylum seeker left his life's work of paintings behind when he fled Iraq and was encouraged to start painting again in Britain even though he lost the use of his right hand through surgery.

The Countess commented that she loved one of his paintings of a young nude and was presented with it by the artist when he was introduced to her.

"She loved it so much I dedicated this picture to her. I am very happy because she accepted," he said.

The Countess joked with Mr Almoula asking which member of staff posed for it.

The Wessexes were also shown the Room of Quiet where they met with the hospice chaplains from different faiths.

Patient Barry Hershon, who met the couple, said: "They were very natural, very easy to talk to. It's very nice to be visited and for the staff to be recognised."

After signing the guest book, they were introduced to volunteer receptionist Doreen Feldman. The phone had not rung once during the hour-long visit, so The Earl joked: "You did very well."

The Countess added: "Don't forget to plug it back in."

Following the visit, they went to the opening of Kisharon College in Parson Street, Hendon, which educates young Jewish adults with learning disabilities.

June 27, 2002 15:00