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Joan Bailey and I met up at Darlington to catch the 11.00am train. Joan had packed some sandwiches - typical of a caring mother - whilst I was relying on the buffet car. A big mistake as the buffet cart had missed the train! Fortunately, the buffet car opened after Doncaster so coffee was purchased and lunch (thanks Joan) was enjoyed. The next task was to find a changing room for Joan - a disabled toilet that was still in good fettle proved to be the answer. Once passed Stevenage she went off and came back transformed - just as a butterfly does out of a chrysalis.
As we entered the underground Joan's dress did a Marilyn Munroe job but all I heard was a squeal as I was in front! We traveled to Green Park and walked across to meet Shona Geddes and Brian at Canada Gate (the golden gate) where we were ushered in front of the 'Official' photographer to pose with Buckingham Palace as the back drop.
The queue up Constitution Hill was so long we couldn't see the end but as we crossed the road debating which entrance to use I spotted some military personnel entering to our left so we followed them. There were no problems with security and we passed through the archway through which we normally see the Queen's carriage disappear. Entering the court yard (quadrangle) beyond we saw the glass screen that the carriage draws up behind for her to alight. Behind is the entrance to the hall which is much bigger than we expected, about 100 feet by 30 feet, and there are three doors at the far end issuing out into the garden.
On entering the garden there was a large marquee for the guests food and near the palace a first aid station. Past the marquee to the left was the toilet station - all very posh with plumbed in flush lavatories and wash hand basins! These were under three very nice maple trees with trunks between eighteen and twenty four inches in diameter, but they had me puzzled as they had 1 diameter conkers on them. This puzzle was solved by a Canadian Officer soldier who confirmed they were maples.
Lemonade was being dispensed in the marquee and it was real lemons, very nice too. There were many civic chains of office on show, and the holders were obviously guests as we were, so I had a field day as this is one of my many interests. The mayor of Leicester was very pleased to talk and felt very privileged to be the holder of the office of mayor, a lovely couple, and like Middlesbrough the mayoress's chain costs ten times more to insure than the mayors. In the late 1800 the wives of the local dignitaries donated some of their jewellery to make the mayoress's chain. Other holders were reticent and some darn right snobs. Ah well it takes all sorts to make the world go round, Politicians Bah!!! Local government employees seemed to be well represented along with service people. I caused our group a lot of headaches due to my penchant to wander and talk to all and sundry. We had our nibbles, salmon canape (tasted strong like caviar), three finger sandwiches, a lemon tart (very nice) and a strawberry tart, washed down with iced coffee, very nice too.
When the Queen made her progress from the palace to her marquee on the right hand of the garden, various couples were brought forward to be presented and by the look of them afterwards, they were over the moon, at least the two couples I passed comments to were. We saw the progress, and the Queen was about twelve feet away as was Prince Charles and Camilla. Ah Well !!!
People started to leave when the Queen had made her progress and we went around the lake, it was cooling a little, 2 degrees maybe but nice in the shade, and left about six o'clock. At the level crossing outside a small policewoman was on duty, I asked her what she was doing, her answer was I'm the fool who has to stand in the road to stop them (the cars) running you over. The lights changed for us, I had taken one pace and a cyclist cut right in front of me, I bellowed 'hoy you' and he nearly fell off his bike! The police woman said do you want my jumper. We went into Green Park where Joan bought cards to write and post, Brian went to find some mementos for his girls, I played tip tap with a piece of wood and my brolly - it was a bit of tree branch the right shape. On to the underground and back to Kings Cross (what a cesspit) no restaurants anymore, just junk food places.
And so ends this diatribe...
Ted Sunley
Gateway Wheelers
Bullion Hall, Bullion Lane, Chester le Street, Co. Durham, DH2 2ES
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