Jubilee Souvenir Booklet - History of Watton, Norfolk

“I REMEMBER...”
The Changing Decades
In the 1930’s we had gas mantles.
In 1940 we still had accumulators for radio.
In the 1950’s flat irons were still in use for many, we still bathed in
a galvanized bath, heating water on the gas stove!
Bunking Off to See the Queen!
I was born in Westminster and when I
was 15 years old two friends and I
bunked off work and ran to Westminster
Abbey just in time to see the Queen and
her husband leaving the Abbey after her
wedding on 20th November 1947
We then ran down to the Palace to see
her come out on the balcony. It was
something I have never forgotten, and I
didn’t even get the sack!
The First and Last Time I Saw the Queen
The first time I saw Princess
Elizabeth was in 1951,
when she visited Norwich
as the Festival of Britain
was being celebrated.
Young, beautiful, impressive
- how I cheered her. Much
of the bomb damage had
been cleared away and the
country was really looking
to a brighter future.
The last time I saw Queen Elizabeth was in 2002 at a Buckingham
Palace Garden Party. Here I saw a smaller figure - an older lady,
touched by the years. As she walked along the line of wheelchair
bound ex Grenadier Guardsmen again I was impressed - The
warmth and charm with which she spoke to each one, must have
made that man feel very special!
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