More memories of our monarch

THE Queen visits Alexandra Park, Oldham on July 18, 1992 and is greeted (above) by the Mayor Cllr Norman Bennett and Colin Smith (chief executive of OMBC) before going on walkabout (below).

ROYAL RECOLLECTIONS OF OUR READERS First TV for the coronation

MY sister and her husband bought their first black and white TV for the wedding of Prince Philip and Princess Elizabeth and all of Henthorn Street, Shaw, came round to watch it.

For the Coronation, my parents bought our first TV. We had a street party, but I remember being sat at tables in the Queen Anne Pub on Church Road, Shaw.

We still have a souvenir coach and horses my mother bought at the paper shop on High Street, Shaw. It’s still in the original box, so it will be in my window for the jubilee with all the other red, white and blue.

I first saw the Queen at a cotton mill in Shaw. I was about 14 at the time and a pupil at Crompton House School.

We went to London for our honeymoon in 1960 so we went to Buckingham Palace to see the notice on the gates of a royal birth – I think it was Prince Andrew.

We went to Windsor for a day trip, as the Queen was doing a review of the Church Lads Brigade. We all went from Roundthorn. We could have touched the Queen, she was so close to us.

I was there in 1974 when the Queen Mother came to open the Queen Elizabeth Hall, I was there when the Queen came to Alexandra Park and I was there when Lady Diana came to Park Cake. I did have a scrapbook of the Royal Family. I wish that I had kept it.

SHEILA FARRAND



WHEN Her Majesty visited the Lilac Mill, Shaw, in 1952, I was the office junior in the mill office.
On the big day, all the office staff (excluding me) were allocated a seat in the warehouse, where the official welcome was to take place by members of the Cotton Board and Mr. Fred Wood, Manager Director.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were to be invited to sign the visitors book and for this purpose two Swan gold fountain pens had been bought and placed on a lectern.

I was told to stand and guard these pens with my life until relieved and then to go back into the office to man the switchboard – meaning I would miss seeing Her Majesty and all the celebration.

On the day, I arrived at the mill wearing my elder sister’s skirt, my mother’s best blouse and a pair of borrowed high-heeled court shoes that rubbed my heels.

I was determined to enjoy the day in my finery, in spite of the fact that most of it would be spent in the main office on my own.

Fortunately for me, no-one relieved me of my duties in relation to guarding the gold pens and so, I had the best vantage point of everyone and stood, wide-eyed, mouth open in awe, within touching distance of my Sovereign, much to the envy of staff and invited guests.

What a fantastic day!

MURIEL TAYLOR


READ more jubilee stories only in our print and eChron editions Today’s Chronicle is a special Jubilee edition with lots of news and background on the Queen’s 60 glorious years on the throne. See lots of pictures from the events on our ‘buy a photo’ tab above


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