On Thursday, the Duchess of Cambridge visited Action on Addiction and its Centre for Addiction Treatment Studies (CATS) in Warminster.
During her visit, the Duchess met with a former alcoholic and music teacher Anna Elston, 43. She spoke to Catherine about how he was “entrenched in active alcoholism” and could have died because of her actions but has overcome her problems. During her dark times, Elston lost care of her three sons, including her premature baby, Dylan who was born at 25 weeks only weighing 1lbs 12oz.
She has now regained custody of her son and the boys, Jack, 13, Eddie, 9, and Dylan who is now 8, and they were with their mum to meet the Duchess of Cambridge at Action on Addiction’s Centre for Addiction Treatment.
Before the event, Anna Elston spoke of the upcoming engagement saying: “I’m so excited to meet her and, even more, excited as one of my children will be giving her the posy.”
The Duchess of Cambridge also met with tutors, examiners and students at Action on Addiction.
Catherine became one of three patrons of the charity in 2012. Action on Addiction helps those dealing with a range of addictions throughout its treatment centres across England.
The centres also help support families of addicts, commissions research and trains those who want to be addictions counsellors.
Speaking to the programme director at the centre, Derrick Anderson, the Duchess told him how those studying for degrees must get satisfaction at helping patients with their own experiences of addiction, saying:
“It must be so powerful for them talking to patients who have gone through similar things.
“I think the holistic approach, getting the whole family, is so important – it doesn’t affect just one person.”
The director of the centre, Tim Leighton spoke of how it is a “tremendous honour” to have the duchess as a patron. He said:
“She isn’t a patron of that many charities,
“She’s a person who is so much in the public and so admired – it has had an enormous impact in terms of reducing stigma.”
