We recently asked readers of The Village News Bulletin if they would like to share some royal memories, particularly of our former Patron, the former Prince of Wales, as we approach the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla on 6th May 2023.
Many residents remember the visit of Prince Charles to Whiteley Village on 23rd March 2007, to celebrate the Centenary of The Whiteley Homes Trust. Some hold memorabilia from that day, including the Royal Visit Souvenir Issue of the Whiteley Villager in April 2007.
We are still in touch with the official volunteer photographer at the time of that royal visit, and it is his photos from the day that are featured in the souvenir publication. Jim Buckley tells us that this is not his only association with the village, as both his mother-in-law and his mother lived and died at Whiteley Village. And more recently some Villagers were featured in his photographs used in The Crown from the Crowd, a commemorative book produced to mark the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Ian Plumb, and his wife Joy, met Prince Charles during the 2007 visit and, for Ian, this remains a treasured memory to this day, keeping the photo of the occasion close at hand in his apartment in Huntley House.
Sadly, Ian is now a widower, but he also has another wonderful royal memory – the signed card he and his late wife received from Queen Elizabeth on the occasion of their Diamond Wedding anniversary in 2010.
Chris Goldsmith tells us how honoured she was to have been chosen from the Village volunteers by Peter Wilkinson, former Chair of the Trustees, and Chandra McGowan, CEO, to attend a reception at Buckingham Palace in honour of Prince Charles’ 70th Birthday in 2018.
Together with the Rev Keith Jowett, former pastor of the Huntley House Church, Chris enjoyed champagne and posh canapés whilst waiting to be introduced to Prince Charles. When their turn came, Chris says that Prince Charles spoke at length about Whiteley Village, the beautiful environment, and the arts and crafts designed cottages, and was very interested in her role as a volunteer.
Mary Jacob, who at 108 is our oldest resident, went to the Coronations of both King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II, and is hoping to watch the Coronation of King Charles III on television from the Eliza Palmer Hub.
Mary is not the only resident of Whiteley Village to have lived through two previous Coronations and to be looking forward to a third. Patty Coburn told us how she enjoyed a big kids party on the farm to celebrate the Coronation of King George, and when Queen Elizabeth was crowned, she was nursing in Harare and remembers a big celebratory party to celebrate the young Queen.
This time, Patty hopes to join the Village Coronation celebrations on Sunday after watching the TV coverage on Saturday.
Sheila Williams, in Huntley House, reminds us that this is not just the third Coronation they will have lived through, but the fifth monarch in their lifetime. That’s five Kings and Queens of the House of Windsor – King George V (1910-1936), Edward VIII (1936) who abdicated before his Coronation that was due to take place in 1937, King George VI (1936-1952), Queen Elizabeth II (1952-2022) and now King Charles III (2022-).
Sheila remembers that she was training as a nursery nurse/teacher in London at the time of Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation. She and her friends liked to visit Buckingham Palace for all the memorable occasions, and as they were often working on the day, and in order to make a quick getaway, they would remove the cuffs of their uniforms, roll up the sleeves and hide them under their coats, as strictly speaking they were not allowed to wear their uniforms outside. However, when they got near the Palace, they would show their uniforms and were often spotted by a friendly policeman who would find them an advantageous viewing spot!
Another resident to have met Prince Charles is Jean Laurent who was working at the Anglo-American Hospital in Cannes. On 15 May 1987 Prince Charles and Princess Diana went to the Cannes Film Festival to British Film Day, and to mark the world premiere of The Whales of August, directed by British Film Director, Lindsay Anderson.
Not only did they meet the stars of the screen that day, but some of the British nurses were invited to meet the royal couple. Jean recalls how polite the Princess of Wales was and how the Prince of Wales spoke to all the nurses, making them feel that he had taken the time to chat to them. He laughed when Jean was asked where she came from, and she replied ‘Wales!’. A happy memory.
Ken Thorndale is eagerly anticipating Coronation Day, and has his jacket and medals ready for the occasion. As a young man, he and his brothers served in the RAF and Ken has some fascinating tales of the time he was stationed in Japan at the end of the Second World War.
He also had a chance sighting of the young Princess Elizabeth when he was cycling along the Hog’s Back near Guildford, and spotted her working on an army vehicle at the side of the road!
Thank you to all our residents who shared their memories with us, as well as their excitement for the forthcoming Coronation of King Charles III.
