THE ROYAL VISIT.
THE LAST TIME QUEEN ELIZABETH WAS IN TOWN THE WEATHER WAS ATROCIOUS . SNOW WAS THE PROBLEM THEN AND WHEN I SET OFF TO CLAIM A VIEW POINT THIS MORNING ( JUNE 5.08.) AT 8.50 IT LOOKED AS THOUGH RAIN WOULD BE TODAY'S PROBLEM. HOWEVER, A LITTLE DRIZZLE IN THE AIR DID NOT PREVENT A SIZEABLE CROWD GATHERING ON THE STRAND AREA TO SECURE THEIR VIEWPOINTS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, MY CHOSEN POSITION WAS MOUNT PLEASANT FROM WHERE A GOOD VIEW OF THE QUEEN'S ARRIVAL AT THE BEACON WAS ALMOST GUARANTEED. THE CROWD WAS SURPRISINGLY THIN ON THE MOUNT AT THAT TIME BUT THE POLICE PRESENCE WAS CLEAR TO SEE. THEY GUARDED THE STEEP STEPS TO PREVENT ACCESS TO THE STRAND BUT ALLOWED FREE MOVEMENT ON THE GRASS VERGES AND ALL THE WHILE EVERYONE WAS UNDER THE SCRUTINY OF THE "SPECIALS" POSITIONED ON TOP OF THE BEACON.
BY THEN IT WAS A LITTLE AFTER 9.AM. AND MORE HAD GATHERED . ALL WAS RELAXED .WE LEANED AGAINST THE WALL , A GOOD VIEW ASSURED ,AND WAITED .THEN TO OUR ANNOYED ASTONISHMENT, WE WERE ALL ORDERED TO STAND BACK OFF THE PATH , AWAY FROM THE WALL ON TO THE GRASS WHICH REDUCED OUR VIEW OF THE PROCEEDINGS CONSIDERABLY AND WITH POLICE STATIONED AT EACH END OF THE WALL IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO BREAK THE RULES. EVERY MOVEMENT FORWARD BROUGHT A CONSTABLE ON THE SCENE TO SHIFT US BACK. NEEDLESS TO SAY THERE WAS MUCH CHUNTERING AND EVENTUALLY ONE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN ASKED THE CONSTABLE FOR AN EXPLANATION AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A PRECAUTION AGAINST US EITHER DROPPING OR THROWING SOMETHING OVER THE WALL TOWARDS THE ROYAL PARTY!!!!!!!!! ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!! DOWN BELOW US WERE THOUSANDS WHO ,WHEN THE QUEEN ARRIVED ,WOULD BE A MATTER OF FEET AWAY FROM HER . OFFICIALDOM GONE OTT !!!!!
AS THE CROWDS INCREASED THE MASSES OF SCHOOL CHILDREN , ENCOURAGED BY THE TOWN CRIER PRACTICED FOR THE QUEEN'S ARRIVAL WITH FLAG WAVING AND CHEERING EXERCISES.
WHILST IN THE BACKGROUND THE EVER RELIABLE BOROUGH BAND ENTERTAINED THE CROWDS WITH THEIR MUSIC.
AND EVERYTHING WAS UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF
THE SECURITY DETAILS ON LAND AND WATER.
AS 10. AM APPROACHED ACTIVITY AT THE BEACON INTENSIFIED. THE WHITEHAVEN MALE VOICE CHOIR ASSEMBLED AND THE MAYOR WITH OTHERS OF THE OFFICIAL RECEPTION PARTY APPEARED.
AND THE GUARD OF HONOUR MARCHED SMARTLY INTO POSITION LED
BY THE U.S.COLOUR PARTY.
FORTUNATELY, MY ELDEST SON HAD TAKEN UP A MUCH BETTER POSITION ON THE ACTUAL STRAND FROM WHICH HE MANAGED TO MAKE A WONDERFUL RECORD OF THE ROYAL VISITORS AND WHEN GREAT CHEERS WENT UP FROM THE SCHOOLCHILDREN WE KNEW THE QUEEN HAD ARRIVED.
THE IMPOSING ROYAL BENTLEY DREW UP AND THE QUEEN WAS GREETED BY THE SINGING OF THE MALE VOICE CHOIR AND A HOST OF PEOPLE BEFORE BEING LED INTO THE BEACON...
PERHAPS THE NEXT EDITION OF THE NEWS WILL TELL US WHAT WENT ON INSIDE THE REVAMPED BEACON BUT WE DO KNOW THAT ANOTHER GROUP OF SCHOOL CHILDREN ENTERTAINED HER WITHIN THE WALLS AND AS THEY WATCHED HER DEPART IT WAS SCENE FOR THEM TO REMEMBER FOREVER.
FOR THE CHILDREN GATHERED OUTSIDE, THE BEST WAS YET TO COME AS THE QUEEN AND PRINCE PHILIP WALKED AMONG THEM , SPEAKING TO SOME AND COLLECTING BOUQUETS OF FLOWERS FROM OTHERS WHILST IN THE BACKGROUND THE CAMERAS RECORDED THE EVENT FOR POSTERITY.
.
THEN CAME THE INSPECTION OF THE GUARD AND BOTH THE
QUEEN AND PRINCE PHILLIP MUST HAVE HAD QUESTIONS FOR
THE AMERICAN VISITORS.
INSPECTIONS OVER THE WALKABOUT CONTINUED WITH THE QUEEN AND PRINCE PHILLIP ACCOMPANIED BY MESSRS RICHARDSON AND THOMSON..... ALL CLOSELY WATCHED BY THE SECURITY DETAIL.
THE ROYAL VISITORS MADE MANY HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN VERY HAPPY THIS MORNING!!!!!
CAMERAS CLICKED LIKE MAD AND AN ABUNDANCE OF FLOWERS DELIGHTED THE QUEEN BUT GAVE THE PURSUING CADETS QUITE A TASK TO COPE WITH.
BOTH VISITORS WERE AT EASE WITH THEIR ESCORTS AND PUBLIC ALIKE AND I WONDER WHAT THE PRINCE SAID TO THESE DELIGHTED LADIES!!!!
