Two Plasterers Local 67 members enjoyed a unique opportunity to welcome a duchess to Detroit.

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, who was married to Prince Andrew and has two daughters who are fifth and sixth in line of succession to the British throne, visited Children's Hospital of Michigan on Nov. 14 in her role as global ambassador for World's Children's Day at McDonald's.

At the hospital, Ferguson visited children and Ronald McDonald House families, read them a story and then joined about 20 kids in making plaster molds of their hands. Ferguson's plaster hands impression will be displayed at the local Ronald McDonald House.

"Nothing is more important than helping children of the world who are in need," the Duchess of York said. "Through my role as global ambassador for World Children's Day, I hope to be a voice for children and families whose needs and critical issues may not otherwise be known."

Other World Children's Day stops for the duchess include Tokyo, Beijing, Seattle, Dallas, Boston and New York. Each November, more than 100 countries participate in World Children's Day by hosting fundraising events and activities in McDonald's restaurants, raising $75 million in the program's first four years.

Using materials donated by Russell Plastering, Plasterers Local 67 Business Manager Jack McCool and journeyman Chris Richardson were asked to prepare the hand molds for the children and Ferguson during her visit. Intermingled with small children and photographers and watched by a hospital audience, McCool and Richardson deftly mixed plaster to the proper consistency and poured them into molds for the kids and the duchess to make hand prints.

"She was very nice, she leaned over and said to me, 'thanks for doing this,' " McCool said. "I was glad to help out."

Richardson, a native Brit, had only a slightly more involved interaction with the duchess, who was surrounded by a whirlwind of activity. The British military veteran wore his Royal Artillery shirt, which drew a smile from Ferguson. Richardson also told her that he grew up near her when she lived in Windsor (about 20 miles from London), and that his dad and her father used to play cricket together.

"I think she got a kick out of my being from her hometown," said Richardson, who became a U.S. citizen in 1989. He said growing up, he only had rare glimpses at the royal family.

"It strikes me as funny that years ago, in England, we'd have to bow and all that in the presence of royalty," Richardson said. "Here it's a lot less formal. They asked us to address her as 'duchess,' but that was about it for formality. All in all, she was a nice lady; very agreeable. When she came in the room, it was all about the children."

PLASTERERS LOCAL 67 member Chris Richardson helps Duchess Sarah Ferguson and some kids at Children's Hospital of Michigan with plaster hand prints. Local 67 Business Manager Jack McCool (light blue shirt, at left) helps out.