MEMORY MONDAY
The Queen has visited Coventry and Warwickshire several times during her reign.
· May 22, 1948: The Queen visits Coventry for the first time to inaugurate the new city centre, the reconstructed Broadgate and to lay the foundation stone of the new shopping precinct
· March 23, 1956: Inspects members of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment at Coventry; and visited South African war veterans
· May 25, 1962: Attends the consecration of the new cathedral
· July 5, 1963: Attends the Royal Show, Stoneleigh
· June 30, 1970: Tours Walsgrave Hospital and the shopping precinct
· July 7, 1972: Attends the Royal Show, Stoneleigh
· July 27, 1977: Visits Coventry as part of her Silver Jubilee celebrations; this included unveiling a plaque at the Coventry Working Men’s Club in Cox Street
· July 12, 1981: Attends Coventry Cathedral for a re-dedication service to mark the Royal British Legion’s Diamond Jubilee
· November 13, 1986: Visits Stratford-on-Avon to re-open the Swan Theatre
· March 26, 1988: Opens the Royal Priors, Leamington Spa and toured the shopping centre.
· July 5, 1989: Attends the Royal Show, Stoneleigh
· Dec 8, 1994: Visits Higham Lane School, Nuneaton and tours the Jaguar factory, Browns Lane, Coventry
· April 13, 1995: Attends the Maundy Service held at Coventry Cathedral
· March 3, 2000: Visits the Herbert Art Gallery to see the Imperial War Museum’s exhibitions of life on the Home Front; and opens a new link building at Birmingham International Airport
· July 3, 2002: Attends the Royal Show, Stoneleigh
· March 4, 2011: Visits the Warwickshire Justice Centre, Leamington Spa
Perhaps you remember some of these occasions or went to see The Queen?
There were also some local initiatives inspired by the Silver Jubilee. The Art into Landscape prize intended to breathe new life into derelict areas. In Coventry, the proposed area was half an acre of land in Spon End. Does anyone recall this? Another was the Silver Jubilee Access Committee, established to widen accessibility in public areas.
Many of the shops in Coventry joined in creating special promotional displays in the ten days running up to The Queen’s visit on 27 July. These were reported in the newspapers at the time, along with the Silver Jubilee street parties held in spite of the inclement weather…I think we might also be affected by this for the Platinum Jubilee parties too! Let's hope the weather is kind to us.
Please share photos of your street parties, garden parties or whatever get-togethers you are having to mark this unique occasion. History is not only about the past, but about events happening now that we are all a part of.
Best wishes for a happy Jubilee weekend from the History Group
Art into Landscape competition. Coventry Evening Telegraph, April 9, 1977 ©findmypast.co.uk
Accessibility scheme. Coventry Evening Telegraph, July 30, 1977 ©findmypast.co.uk
Silver Jubilee street parties, Coventry Evening Telegraph, June 8, 1977 ©findmypast.co.uk
Preparations for The Queen's Silver Jubilee visit to Coventry, Coventry Evening Telegraph April 7, 1977.
© findmypast.co.uk
The Queen tours Walsgrave Hospital, June 30 1970 © coventrytelegraph.net
The Queen visits the Jaguar Factory, Browns Lane, 9 December, 1994 © coventrytelegraph.net
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh visit a working men's club on Cox Street, Coventry as part of the Silver Jubilee visit, 1977 ©coventrytelegraph.net