BBC One Northern Ireland will be broadcasting a special programme on Sunday, 3rd June, about HM The Queen's visit to the Province on the year of the Coronation:-
On a warm sunny July day in 1953, Gloria Hunniford was out riding her bicycle on a country road when a cavalcade of cars coming towards her made her pull in to the hedge. Driving past her in an open-topped car she saw the newly-crowned QUEEN ELIZABETH II.
Gloria
has never forgotten this special childhood memory, and within The Queen and Me
she retraces the steps of the Queen on her very first visit to Northern Ireland
as Monarch.
In the
programme, Gloria sets out to discover just why Her Majesty was here, where she
went and whom she met. Interweaving the memories of those who were there with
remarkable vintage film, a story unfolds of a magical and intimate royal visit
to Northern Ireland unlike any other.
From
the then nine-year old Roberta Simpson who presented Her Majesty with damask
cushion-covers in Ballymena, to Lisburn amateur film maker Harold Patterson,
and Ballymoney St John Ambulance leader Mollie Holmes, we hear first-hand what
it was like to meet The Queen, as those who were there share their memories,
souvenirs and stories of the occasion.
Gloria
delves into the archived press coverage of the royal visit to discover that we
were as fascinated by what HM was wearing then as we are by The Duchess
of Cambridge’s wardrobe today.
Following
in HM's footsteps she takes the train through Ballymena, Ballymoney and
Coleraine to the beautiful north Antrim coast where, in 1953, the Royal Train
stopped for lunch so that the royal party could enjoy the scenery.
The Queen And Me will be shown on Sunday, 3rd June, at
12pm, on BBC One NI, and will be repeated on Monday 4th June at
11.10pm.
There is a preview clip on the Diamond Jubilee website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00t7byy
1 comment :
I was the founder Scout Leader of 1st Killymurris Scout Group In 1949, when I was 14 years of age. Having created one of the most successful troops in Mid Antrim I was elected to be the Secretary for the Mid Antrim Scouter’s Association. This Group elected me, Joseph McAlonan to represent the Scout Association of Mid Antrim Group as the Scout In The Guard of Honour when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11 visited Ballymena on her way by rail from Belfast to the north Antrim Coast. July 1953.
I have the greatest admiration for HRH Queen Elizabeth and have also been presented to HRH The Queen Mother on the occasion of her two day visit to Gallagher’s in Galgorm Ballymena, in October 1963. I was Shop Steward for the T&GWU and represented 300 workers. My job in the Factory was as a Section Man on Cigar making machines. These visits were covered by, Belfast Telegraph, Belfast Newsletter & Liam Glass, 64 Mill Street, Ballymena.
My list of Royal events include also two invitations by HRH Queen Elizabeth to attend Royal Garden Parties on, 21st July 1981,
and 24th July 1990.
I have also assisted HRH Prince Phillip present Gold DOE Awards to young people from Essex in The Throne Room, Buckingham Palace.
joemack71@hotmail.co.uk
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