Everyone loves a royal visit, and it was no different in the spring of 1957, when the red carpet was rolled out across the city for the arrival of a young Queen Elizabeth, with her husband, HRH Prince Philip beside her. Here she is being greeted by the Dean of Hereford (Rev. Hedley Burrows) with the Lord Lieutenant (Sir Richard Cotterell) and Prince Phillip nearby. Series of photos marking the visit appeared in the Western Mail April 25th, 1957.
Only a few years into her reign, the people of the county turned out in force to catch sight of their new Queen and her husband, Prince Philip. She had a lot to pack in. Her first visit of the day was to the Cathedral.
It was a whistle-stop 25-minute tour of the Cathedral, taking in its treasures, and listening to the choir singing This Joyful Eastertide. Before she continued on her tour, she carried out the ancient ceremony of handing out Maundy Money to a selected group of citizens of the County. Were you one of them?
The Royal Couple were then whisked away to a number of historic sites around the City, including Hereford Livestock Market, and an introduction to what else, the Hereford Bull. And then it was on to Hereford football ground at Edgar Street, in an open-topped vehicle, to meet school children from across the city.
On 25th. April 1957, the Queen & the Duke of Edinburgh came to Hereford. The Royal came to Leominster by Train and were then driven to Hereford by car going over Dinmore Hill. Some 50 members of the Pony Club and at the age of 13 I was one of them, and lined the route on Horse Back to see them pass. The Authorities took a very dim view of this and were not in favour. Anyway it was a very memorable occasion. When Her Majesty arrived in the City of Hereford and got out of her car the first thing she said was how wonderful it was to see all those youngsters lining the route on horseback!!!!!
i I was on National Service in the Royal Air Force, stationed at RAF Hereford (Credenhill) on Accounts Clerk training.
Our Course was ‘diverted’ to ‘Route Lining’ training for a week, after which, on the Day, we lined part of the route of the Royal Car.with our highly polished boots and ‘brasses’ and special white webbing belts.
Our meeting with the Queen and Prince Philip was short as they were running late and went past us before we reached the ‘present arms’ as a salute.
A time to remember from my 2 Years serving Her Majesty
Stan Walton
20-09-2022
i I was on National Service in the Royal Air Force, stationed at RAF Hereford (Credenhill) on Accounts Clerk training.
Our Course was ‘diverted’ to ‘Route Lining’ training for a week, after which, on the Day, we lined part of the route of the Royal Car.with our highly polished boots and ‘brasses’ and special white webbing belts.
Our meeting with the Queen and Prince Philip was short as they were running late and went past us before we reached the ‘present arms’ as a salute.
A time to remember from my 2 Years serving Her Majesty
Stan Walton
20-09-2022