Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Exhibition 2012

 

An exhibition was mounted in the village hall showing, decade by decade, the events and changes in the village coupled with events in the Queen’s reign over the last 60 years. 

Listings for each decade are given here, together with captions for the photos.  All the photos are stored in archival quality wallets by the history society.  Some are shown in the gallery on this website.

Further information was displayed including many additional photos, an original ration book, Programme of Coronation Festivities Husthwaite 1953, programme of events for the Silver Jubilee 1977, Diamond Jubilee Thanksgiving Service sheet 2002, Husthwaite Jubilee Celebrations programme of events 2002, copies of church magazines (The Herald, The Link), village newsletters, booklets published by the history society, newspaper cuttings, magazines depicting both Husthwaite and Royalty.

 

Husthwaite

1950s

 

·       Coronation celebrations 1953 – TVs bought

 

·       Trains – Station Master, Husthwaite Gate - Ernest Megson – from 1952 supervised from Coxwold - last passenger train 1953 - excursions continued 

 

·       Coaches and Garage – Hutchinson’s (started 1924)

 

·       Farming families (ongoing) – Barker/1967/Duffield, Clark/1998/McClanachan, Dennis, Houlston, Smith, Smithson, Thornton/1965/Buffey, Wentworth, Wise 

 

·       Flower o’ May Farm - Wise family – calor gas lamps -  inside water toilet and electricity installed

 

·       Haulage contractor/coal and coke merchant – Percy Moncaster (1950 – 1976)

 

·       Easingwold Grammar/Modern built 1953 – children travelled on Hutchinson’s coaches 

 

·       Orchards - fruit  transported by lorries and trains

 

·       Primary C of E School – Mr Heath

 

·       Builders - Fox’s (ongoing 2012, 5^th generation)

 

·       Agricultural engineering - Slaters Firm closed 1956

 

·       Low St Stores - Kath and Alf Lumley (1950 – 1978)

 

·       Cash Stores, High St - Ivan and Mary Dowson

 

·       Butcher, The Nookin - John Thornton/1999/Andrew Thornton, son (ongoing)

 

·       Milkman, Manor House Farm – John Kirby, (pedigree Jerseys)/1968/John Williamson (ongoing)

 

·       Food Rationing (after WWII) stopped – sweets/sugar 1953, other foods 1954.  Cheese – mainly “Government” Cheddar until 1980s

 

·       Craftsman in Oak, Kay’s Bank - Wilfred Hutchinson (later with son Trevor, restorer) – started 1957

 

·       Blacksmith, Beal Cottage - Abel Thompson

 

·       Blacksmiths Arms - Mr and Mrs Frank Moncaster

 

·       Post Office, Holly Grove, High St. - letters sorted and delivered - Norman Moncaster (1948 – 1985) + post lady Mrs Miller

 

·       Church - Vicars Francis Goodburn Buffey/1956/Wray Welburn Sutton/1958/Alfred Richard Jones

 

·       Girl Guides - 1^st Husthwaite group formed

 

·       Husthwaite Show annual event (started by Clark family 1945)

 

·       Farmers’ Ball annual event on Shrove Tuesday

 

·       Whist Drives at the Institute (Village Hall)

 

·       Husthwaite W.I. (started 1920)

 

·       Billiards teams and leagues (started pre-war, resumed after WW2)

 

·       Husthwaite Gardening Club - formed 1959 (ongoing)

 

·       East View houses built mid 1950s - new houses in Elphin View after demolition of Passman’s Row

 

1960s

 

·       Hutchinson’s buses used for transport to work/Thirsk market/health clinics/leisure activities

 

·       Trains – Porter at Husthwaite Gate Station – Percy Featherstone - excursions stopped 1963 - last goods train from Husthwaite station 1964

 

·       Few street lights - streets quiet – children play in the road.  Few cars until the late 1960s - newcomers arrive - more people work outside the village

 

·       Mains sewerage installed - tarmac on High St and Low St – footpaths, kerbstones installed mid 1960s

 

·       Primary School – Miss Audrey Jenkinson/1966/Mrs Mary Adamson

 

·       Farming becomes mechanised

 

·       Fox’s builders take over Slaters Yard 1967

 

·       Blacksmiths Arms - Ernest and Kathy Nichols mid 1960s

 

·       Post Office - Norman Moncaster/1962/ Doris Moncaster (daughter)

 

·       Milkman – Kirby/1968/John Williamson (ongoing)

 

·       Vicars - Alfred Richard Jones/1963/Capt. Henry George Tyler

 

·       Some old houses and terraced cottages demolished - new houses built eg Prospect Cottages 1964/5

 

1970s

 

·       C of E country primary school - new building opened 1974 -   Mrs Adamson – includes Coxwold children 

 

·       Low St shop - Lumleys - closes after 28 years 1977 

 

·       Queen’s Silver Jubilee festivities – 1977 - tree planted in cemetery

 

·       Church - Capt. Henry George Tyler (last vicar of Husthwaite)/1977/James Thom (now vicar of Coxwold) - Vicarage sold as private house 1977

 

·       Embroidered cope and stole – farewell gift to Rev. Tyler 1977

 

·       Extension to the cemetery consecrated 1972 – procession led by Dr Donald Coggan, Archbishop of York

 

·       W.I. active (started 1920)

 

·       Evergreen Club - for people over 65 - started 1975 with 30 members

 

·       Friday Fellowship started for children 5 to11 – bible stories/music/games/outings 

 

·       Youth Fellowship started

 

·       Car Treasure Hunts started

 

·       New houses built on farmland and orchards

 

1980s

 

·       School - Mary Adamson/1983/Dorothy Taylor

 

·       W.I. – booklet “Favourite Recipes from Husthwaite WI 1985” (£1)

 

·       Cash Stores – Ivan and Mary Dowson/1986/David and Ann Dowson

 

·       Post Office - Doris Moncaster/1985/Tom and Rosemary Nixon/1988/Deborah Pooley, at East View - Post lady Elsie Retchless

 

·       WEA local history classes - Jennifer Kaner 1986 – led to book “Coxwoldshire” 1992 - start of the History Society (ongoing)

 

·       Baxby Flying Club - established 1986

 

·       Sewing group – started 1988 (ongoing)

 

·       Acaster Hill Tea Room – Bunnie Wentworth - opened late 1980s for 8 years    

 

·       Gardening services - Mark Scarce - started1989

 

·       Church - James Thom (rector Coxwold)/1988/David Francis Johnson (joint benefice with Coxwold).  Husthwaite Herald + Coxwold Newsletter combined to form “Link” 1988 (ongoing)

 

·       Husthwaite designated a Conservation Area 1987

 

·       Allan Duffield (breeder/judge of rare sheep) meets Queen Mother at Smithfield Show 1989 and on other occasions 1990s

 

1990s

 

·       “Coxwoldshire” – local history book published 1992

 

·       Old properties converted/renovated

 

·       All Seasons Turf – Jeremy and Lindsay Walker 1997

 

·       Floral Design –Yvonne Dennis from late 1990s

 

·       Post Office - Nixons, Spring Garth/1992/Deborah Pooley, East View/1997 – closed

 

·       School – Mrs Taylor/1995/Mr Dobson/1999/Stuart Outram

 

·       Reunion of Old Scholars from the village school 1990

 

·       Church - Vicars  David Francis Johnson/1997/Dr Roger Eric Long

 

·       Flower Festival at St Nicholas’ Church 1990

 

·       Friday Fellowship replaced by Children and Youth Fellowship

 

·       Husthwaite W.I. 70^th anniversary 1990 - Blue Cedar tree planted in church yard - W.I. ceased 1994

 

·       Annual sponsored cycle rides in aid of Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust and the church – Alan MacDougall (sometimes accompanied) – from1996

 

·       Evergreen Club - closed 1992 with 9 members

 

·       Open Gardens - fundraising events

 

·       Village Hall improvements – reopened by Lady Masham 1993

 

·       Village survey 1998 – new village hall wanted

 

2000s

 

·       Millennium celebrations

 

·       Buses – to Easingwold,York, Helmsley,Thirsk

 

·       “Houses of Husthwaite” by Brenda Duffield 2000

 

·       Billiards club –ended 2001

 

·       Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations 2002 – Sophie Lawrance crowned Jubilee Queen

 

·       Computer age – more people work from home - designers (buildings, interiors, stamps, websites),  therapists, desk top publishing, consultancies ….

 

·       New village businesses  - Holiday Lets, Byland Media, Mowatt Financial Planning, The Curtain Room, Taylor Made Catering, Specialist Paving and Conservatory Cleaning, Alpaca farm, rural crafts ….

 

·       Blacksmiths Arms – closed 2001, reopened as The Roasted Pepper 2003, renamed The Balmoral 2007, renamed The Orchard Inn 2011

 

·       Milkman - John Williamson awarded MBE for services to the rural community 2003

 

·       Post lady – Elsie Retchless retires after 20 years service 2003

 

·       Vicars - Roger Long/2003/Ian Kitchen/2012/vacancy.  Benefice combined with Crayke 2003.

 

·       400^th anniversary of King James Bible – read aloud in churches in the benefice by Rev Ian Kitchen 2011

 

·       Anglicans and Methodists hold joint services at eg Christmas, Remembrance Day, Harvest Festival

 

·       Church improvements – Belfry windows 2004, lighting and audio loop 2008, war memorial 2008, new heating system 2010, outer porch door ordered from the Squirrel Crafts.  Churches Care and Support Scheme started 2007

 

·       Wesleyan Chapel – extensive alterations 2000 including new heating, kitchen and toilet - “Coffee and Chat” from 2001, “Soup and Pud” from 2004, Packing of Christmas Boxes for children (Romania etc) from 2005, entertainments – concerts, slides, talks, fund raising

 

·       Phoenix Choir formed 2002 – church and secular music

 

·       Open Gardens - fund raising events

 

·       Husthwaite Newsletter - bimonthly, started 2002.   First Village website set up 2003

 

·       History Soc - booklets published 2002-2010.  William Peckitt plaque erected on church wall 2003.  History Society website launched 2009

 

·       Recycling encouraged – wheelie bins replace sacks 2003.  Later, box scheme added

 

·       Neighbourhood Watch re-launched 2004

 

·       Affordable housing discussed with local council 2005

 

·       Library Van visits stop – Book Exchange starts 2011, Reading Club formed 2012

 

 

·       Village Hall – previous plans for new hall shelved 2003, grants for improvements outside/inside 2004, major lottery grant 2007.  Bid for lottery funding – reaches stage 3, 2012 – grant for architectural plans for new hall

 

·       Village Hall – many new activities eg Karate, Yoga, craft exhibitions, drama group, visiting theatre performances, Elphin Drift, concerts, Christmas Fairs, youth groups, WEA classes, Harvest Ho down, Scottish dancing, Burns Night. First village pantomime – “Cinderella” 2004

 

·       Parish plan published 2007 – majority of objectives implemented over next few years

 

·       Plans for recreation area – many grants obtained

 

·       Village Welcome Pack – 1^st prize (Village Ventures Award) 2009

 

·       ITV “Peoples Millions Initiative” - £50K awarded for new recreation area 2009.  Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) officially opened 2009 – tennis, netball, football

 

·       Young childrens play area - opened by fund provider Mike Horrocks, manager of LEADER (European initiative for assisting rural communities to improve quality of life and economic prosperity) 2010

 

·       Adventure Area and Fitness Trail - opened by ITV presenter Helen Ford 2011

 

·       Percy Featherstone - retires after 20 years as District Councillor for the Crayke Ward, 12 years as District Rep. for  White Horse Ward 2011 – made Alderman

 

·       School - Stuart Outram/2003/(Mrs Wilson)/2004/Ian Yapp/2007/(Mrs Wilson)/2008/Rebecca Bainbridge

 

·       School – STAR (Shall They All Read) Award - new library and ICT suite - opened by the Very Rev David Hope, Archbishop of York,  2002. School website set up 2011

 

·       School - Tyre Park play area constructed 2009, raised beds for growing vegetables, wildlife garden 2010

 

·       Annual Husthwaite Poet Laureate competition 2009

 

·       Orchard Project started 2009, Husthwaite Orchard Village Cooperative established, first Apple Fair 2010.  Fruit juice and cider on sale locally – all proceeds support village activities

 

·       Energy saving Days - 2010, 2011 – exhibitions, free advise (Yorkshire Energy Partnership) – installations of solar PV panels, underground heat pumps, wind turbines

 

·       Oil cooperative set up to supply village from cheapest source on set days 2010

 

·       Orchard Village Club – monthly lunches and entertainments launched to replace the old Evergreen Club 2012

 

·       Awards For All - grant for building a pavilion and store on recreation area 2012

 

·       Eco campsite “The Hideaway” opened 1^st June at Baxby Manor

 

 

 

Photo captions (Husthwaite)

 

1950s

 

1          Children on Coronation Day (June 2^nd 1953) at a Fancy Dress Party in the Wesley Hall.   1 Susan Kirby, 2 Irene Hutchinson, 3 Peggy Oxtoby, 4 Wendy Cooper, 5 Hazel (Cadd) Constable, 6 Mrs Cooper, 7 Shirley Martin, 8 Pat Drinkhill, 9 Marie Wood, 10 Doreen Pinder, 11 Ronnie Sargent, 12 Gwen Elsworth, 13 Betty Constable, 14 Jean Retchless, 15 George Oxtoby, 16 Wilf Hutchinson, 17 George Thompson, 18 David Wentworth, 19 Dorothy Slater, 20 Mavis Shepherd, 21 Mrs Sargent, 22 ?, 23 Sylvia Bowman (Oxtoby), 24 Louis Ward, 25 Peter Vince, 26 ? Graham Rickard, 27 Joyce Hardcastle, 28 Diane Oxtoby, 29 Ann Elsworth, 30 ?, 31 Rosie Oxtoby, 32 Ernie Oxtoby, 33 Pauline Fenwick, 34 Michael Drinkhill, 35 David Dowson, 36 Terry Duffield, 37 Malcolm Pipes, 38 Mervyn Duffield, 39 ? Carol Fenwick, 40 ?, 41 Angela Cooper 42 Paul Fenwick, 43 Ricky Fenwick, 44 ?, 45 Bobby Oxtoby, 46 Jennifer Sargent, 47 ?.                    

 

2          Coronation Day – tables ready for the tea party in the village hall

 

3          A train calling at Husthwaite Gate station on the last day of the passenger service on 31 January 1953. Porter - Vic Rickards

 

4          Sacks from the railway station were rented for use on the farms, 1950s:

Jack Wood, Jack Smith and Gillian Wood

Vick Rickards, Lena Smith, Freda Smith, Charlie Toase (+Roger), Linda Wood

 

5          Sowing.  Jack Smith on the tractor, Charlie Toase using the fiddle drill, 1956

 

6          Stooking sheaves of wheat, early 1950s: Geoff Wise, Maurice Hutchinson,  Harold Batty

 

 

1960s

 

1          Wilf Hutchinson “The Squirrel Man” at work with his adze

 

2          Headmaster’s house, old school and playground - aerial photo 1963

 

3          Area near Prospect Houses – aerial photo 1963 with recent photo for comparison

 

4          Old Stores opposite Hutchinson’s garage - aerial photo 1968

 

5          Prospect House and adjacent cottages, demolished mid 1960s

 

6          Husthwaite Brownie Pack, late 1960s: Valerie Moncaster, Caroline Hudson, Rosie Chatten, Mandy Scarce, Mrs Dorothy Hutchinson (Brown Owl), Louise Parfect, Julie Scarce, Ruth Moncaster

 

7          Show Horses

 

8          Husthwaite Show Committee, late 1960s: John Furness, John Rounthwaite, Stanley Raper, George Muncaster, Clem Buffey, Claude Wentworth,  Allan Duffield

 

 

1970s

 

1          Old C of E School

 

2          The School House and School as private dwellings – 1983

 

3          The Old School House - 1998

 

4          Pupils at the new school 1974

Mrs Fox, Peter Wise, Richard Duffield, Grant Faulkner, Mark Scarce, Carl Tyrer, Alan Nixon, Neil Smith, Kevin Saye, Alan Chatton, Mrs Adamson

Mark Liversidge, Michael Allanson, Sue Clark, Anna Sutton, Amanda Hiley, Angela Allanson, Mairi Nixon, Debra Pooley, Anne Clark, Krista Sutton, Marion Powell, Paul Frost, David Drinkhill

Ellen Powell, Linda Sargent, Elizabeth Foulds, Katie Bell, Angela Hiley, Carol Batty, Lindsey Hodgson, Michaela Saye, Helen Curran, Emma Curran

Mark Chapman, Adrian Wood, Mark Fothergill, Nicholas King, Kevin Drinkhill, Ian Muncaster, Robert Proud, Andrew Powell, Ian Smith, Paul Chapman  Tony Scarce

 

5          Husthwaite “A” Billiards Team, winners of the Forest of Galtres League 1972:

D. Rudd, M. Hutchinson, H. Duffield, A. Duffield, C. Wentworth, J.G. Wise, M. Duffield

 

6          Husthwaite “B” Billiards Team, early 1970s: Terry Duffield, Alan Taylor, Chris Fenwick, David Smith, Tony Fox, Chris Slater

 

7          The Brownie pack - early 1970s. Brown Owl – Jill Allanson:

Angela Allanson, Deborah Pooley, Anna Sutton, Marie Nixon, Amanda Hiley, Krista Sutton, Anne Clark, Gillian Featherstone

Rosemary Taylor, Sarah Featherstone, Sheena Robson, Angela Hiley, Susan Clark, Julia Hutchinson, Carol Batty, Fenella Cameron, Julie Muncaster

 

8          The Evergreen club - dominoes at Freda Smith’s bungalow

 

 

 

1980s

 

1          Brenda Duffield’s shopping lists: 1970s, 1980s, 1990s

 

2          Horse ready for Husthwaite Show

 

3          Mary Dowson at the village shop

 

4          Mrs Adamson’s leaving day  at Husthwaite School 1983

 

5          Hutchinson’s coach company 1985 

 

6          Alan Hutton with members of the Fellowship (c1988) including Richard Smith, Claire Adamson, Jaime Taylor, Chris Fox, Andrew Throup, Andrew Murray, Matthew Fox, Samantha Carter, Thomas Slater, Emily Hewitson, Cheryl Adamson, Scot Richmond, Polly Hewitson, Catherine Duffield, Katherine Duffield, Thomas Carter

 

7          The Billiards Team with The Forest of Galtres league trophy 1988: Mervyn Duffield, Allan Duffield, Geoff Wise, David Smith,

Andrew Thornton, Peter Wise, Tony Fox

 

 

 

1990s

 

1          Flower Festival, St Nicholas Church 1990

 

2          Flower Festival 1990 – everything ready - Juliet McDougall

 

3          School reunion committee 1990: Phyllis Inns, Francis Garbutt, Nancy Smith, Jack Wood, Cecil Kidd, Don Hutchinson, Percy Moncaster, Rose Elsworth

 

4          Nottingham Show 1990 - Allan Duffield with one of his prize winning Wensleydales

 

5          Produce at Husthwaite show 1992: Phil Chaloner, Bob Eyre, Gerald Crane

 

6          Hannah Crane chats to John Fisher about his rare=breed sheep

 

7          Husthwaite Show 1993 – secretary, Phyllis Clark

 

8          Renovations at the village hall 1993

 

9          Allan Duffield meets H.R.H. the Queen Mother, Smithfield Show 1993

 

10        Stall in aid of church funds at an open gardens day, The White House 1997: Hilary Pearson, Audrey Raper and Vera McMahon

 

11        Open gardens - Hillcrest House pond and bridge  

 

12        Three generations of the Fox family builders working on the end gable of Wilton Croft 1997: Raymond Fox, Peter Wise, Matthew Fox, Tony Fox, Chris Fox

 

13        New Years Eve 1999: Margaret and Allan Duffield, Allan Chatten, Carol Fenwick with Alex, Les Slater

 

14        New Year’s Eve 1999: Charlotte Chambers, Joe Walker, Danny Morrison, Ben Walker, James Lawrance, Adam Whenman, Nicky Allanson

 

15        Millennium Celebration at the Blacksmiths Arms - ticket

 

 

 

2000s

 

1          Husthwaite Drama Group - pantomimes 2004 – 2008

 

2          Husthwaite Drama Group – plays 2009 – 2012

 

3          Husthwaite Recreation Area

 

4          Carol singing around the village 2009

 

5          Soup and Pud – Methodist Chapel 2004

 

6          Christmas parcels packed for children in Eastern Europe 2010

 

7          Made in Husthwaite day 2009

 

8          Apple Orchard Production Unit, Manor Farm - Cameron Smith et al 2010

 

9          Varieties of local apples, Apple Fest 2010

 

10        Jacki Barlow with some of her Alpaca flock

 

11        Young children’s play area opened 2010

 

12        Burns Night 2012

 

13        The Orchard Village Club have lunch 2012

 

 

 Timeline for Queen Elizabeth II

1950s

 

6th Feb, 1952	Elizabeth accedes to the throne on the death of her father, George Vl
2nd June, 1952	Coronation at Westminster Abbey, the first such event to be televised.
2nd June, 1952	Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay reach the summit of Mount Everest on the same day.
1953	Francis Crick and James Watson unravel the mystery of DNA.
1953/54	Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip embark on a 6month world tour including Australia and New Zealand.
1955	Winston Churchill resigns as Prime Minister and is succeeded by Anthony Eden.
9th Jan, 1957	Anthony Eden resigns and is replaced by Harold Macmillan as Prime Minister.
1957	The Gold Coast becomes independent as Ghana, the first British colony in Africa to receive its independence.
1959	Oil is discovered in the North Sea.

 

 

  1960s

19th Feb, 1960	Prince Andrew is born.
1960	Union of South Africa withdraws from the Commonwealth.
6th May,1960	Princess Margaret marries Anthony Armstrong Jones.
18th Oct, 1963	Harold Macmillan resigns and is succeeded by Alec Douglas-Hume as Prime Minister.
10th March,1964	Prince Edward is born.
16th Oct, 1964	Labour Party wins General Election and Harold Wilson becomes Prime Minister.
25th April, 1969	British troops deployed in Northern Ireland at the beginning of the troubles.
1st July, 1969	Prince Charles’s Investiture as Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle by Her Majesty the Queen.

 

 

1970s

19th June, 1970	Conservatives win the General Election and Edward Heath becomes Prime Minister.
1971	Decimal currency is introduced.
28th May, 1972	King Edward V111, the king who abdicated dies.
1st January, 1973	Britain joins the Common Market.
14th Nov,1973	Princes Anne marries Mark Phillips
28th Feb, 1974	Labour party forms a minority government after general election.
10th Oct, 1974	Labour party wins a narrow majority in second general election of the year.  Harold Wilson is Prime Minister.
16th March,1976	Harold Wilson resigns and is succeeded by James Callaghan.
15th Nov, 1977	Peter Phillips, the Queen’s first grandchild was born.
1977	Celebration of Silver Jubilee of the Queen’s accession.
1978	The first test tube baby is delivered in Oldham.
3rd May,1979	Conservative Party wins the General Election and Margaret Thatcher becomes Britain’s first woman Prime Minister.

 

 

1980s

1980	Queen Elizabeth, head of the Church of England, meets His Holiness The Pope at the Vatican.
29th July, 1981	Prince Charles marries Lady Diana Spencer at St Pauls.
15th May, 1981	Zara Phillips was born.
April – June 1982	Falklands War.
21st June, 1982	Prince William was born.
15th Sept. 1984	Prince Harry was born.
1984/85	Miners strike against pit closures but are defeated by Margaret Thatcher.
April, 1986	Queen Elizabeth celebrates her 60th birthday.
23rd July, 1986	Prince Andrew marries Sarah Ferguson.
8th August,1988	Beatrice of York born.
1989	Poll tax is introduced.
10th Nov. 1989	Fall of the Berlin Wall symbolising the end of the cold war and the end of Soviet hegemony in Eastern Europe.

 

 

1990s

23rd March, 1990	Eugenie of York born.
22nd Nov, 1990	Margaret Thatcher withdraws from Conservative leadership election.
28th Nov, 1990	John Major becomes the new Prime Minister.
1991	The Soviet Union ceases to exist.
2nd April, 1992	Princes Anne and Mark Phillips divorce.
12th Dec. 1992	Princes Anne marries Timothy Laurence.
1992	Great fire at Windsor Castle.
1993	The European Parliament comes into force.
1994	Opening of the Channel Tunnel between England and France.
30th May, 1996	Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson divorce.
28th August, 1996	Prince Charles and Princess Diana divorce.
1997	Hong Kong reverts back to Chinese rule.
1st May, 1997	Tony Blair’s ‘New Labour’ party wins the General Election.
31st August, 1997	Princess Diana dies in Paris in a car crash.
6th Sept. 1997	Diana’s funeral at Westminster Abbey.
10th April, 1998	The Good Friday agreement brings peace to Northern Ireland.
6th May, 1999	Elections held for the New Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly.
10th June, 1999	Prince Edward marries Sophie Rhys-Jones and becomes Earl and Countess of Wessex, a title last used by Harold, the king whose death at Hastings marked the end of Anglo-Saxon England.

 

2000s

2000	New millennium celebrations.
2000	Queen Mother celebrates her 100th birthday.
11th Sept, 2001	Al-Qaeda attacks the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon.
2002	Queen Elizabeth 11 marks her Golden Jubilee of 50 years rule.
19th Feb, 2002	Death of Princess Margaret.
30th March, 2002	Death of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
20th March, 2003	British and American troops invade Iraq.
8th Nov, 2003	Lady Louise Windsor, daughter of Prince Edward is born.
9th April, 2005	Prince Charles marries Camilla Parker-Bowles.
2006	Extended celebrations of the Queen’s 80th Birthday.
2007	Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip celebrate 60 years of marriage.
2007	Queen Elizabeth becomes the oldest ever reigning British monarch.
2007	Tony Blair resigns as Prime Minister and is succeeded by Gordon Brown.
17th Dec. 2007	James Windsor, Viscount Severn, the son on Prince Edward was born.
2010	David Cameron, Conservative, becomes Prime Minister and forms a coalition government with the Liberal Democrat Party.
29th April, 2011	Prince William marries Catherine Middleton and they become Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
10th June, 2011	Prince Philip celebrates his 90th Birthday.
5th April, 2012	Queen Elizabeth distributes Royal Maundy Money in York Minster.
2nd June, 2012	Queen Elizabeth 11 has reigned 60 years on the British throne.

 

 

Photo captions (Royalty)

1950s

1          A final farewell.  King George waves goodbye to his daughter, Princess Elizabeth, at London Airport on 31^st January, 1952.

2          The announcement of the death of King George V1 and the arrival home of the new Queen.

3.         Queen Elizabeth 11 arrives in black seven days later on 7^th February, 1952.

4.         Three Queens – Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth 11 awaiting the coffin of King George V1 for the lying in state.  February, 1952.

5.         The Queen with her first Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill in 1953.

6          The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth 11 in Westminster Abbey on 2^nd June, 1953.

 

1960s

1.         Princess Margaret’s wedding to Anthony Armstrong-Jones, the first British royal wedding to be televised.  6^th May, 1960

2.         Prince Edward was born on 10^th March, 1964.  On her 39^th birthday The Queen spent time with her family at Frogmore House.

3.         A momentous occasion in the family’s history when the Queen met the Duke of Windsor for the first time since his abdication 30 years previously.   1966.

4.         The investiture of Prince Charles as the Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle on 1^st July, 1969.

5.         Queen Elizabeth and the Prince of Wales.

 

1970s

1.         Princess Anne married Captain Mark Phillips on the 14^th November, 1973 at Westminster Abbey.

2.         The newly weds waving from Buckingham Palace balcony.

Whilst on a state visit to Indonesia the Queen received news that Princess Anne and Mark Phillips had survived a kidnap attempt whilst being driven down the Mall.  Four people received gunshot wounds during the incident.

3.         Policemen comb the gutter for a bullet, feet from where Princess Anne’s car was stopped in the kidnap attempt.  March, 1974.

4.         The shattered windscreen of a taxi, caught up in the incident in the Mall, stands behind a policeman searching for evidence.

5.         Silver Jubilee Tour, 1977.  Adoring crowds turn out to see the Queen in Brighton.

6.         The Silver Jubilee Service 7^th June, 1977.

7.         The Silver Jubilee Service 7^th June, 1977.

8.         The Queen and Prince Philip with the entire gathering of Commonwealth prime ministers at Lusaka in 1979.

 

1980s

1.         The Queen meets his Holiness the Pope during her official visit to the Vatican, her first as Queen during October, 1980.

2.         The official portrait by Norman Parkinson taken to commemorate the Queen Mother’s 80^th birthday.  Taken at Windsor Castle June, 1980.

3.         Keeping her balance.  The Queen comforts her horse, Burmese after blank shots were fired at her during the 1981 Trooping of the Colours.

4.         Prince William was born on 21^st June, 1982 and became 2^nd in line to the British throne.  William was christened in the music room at Buckingham Palace on 4^th August, 1982.

5.         The future.  ‘Granny’ with Princes William and Harry, 1987.

 

1990s

1.         The Queen with her Prime Ministers at Downing Street in 1991.

2.         The lowest point.  The Queen waits to make her ‘annus horribilis’ speech at London’s Guildhall, after the marriage breakdowns of two of her children and the devastating Windsor fire,  1992.

3.         The Queen with Nelson Mandela, an historic meeting in March 1995.

4.         The Queen and Prince Philip viewing tributes to Diana Princess of Wales left outside Buckingham Palace gates.  This was seen by many as the first step by the royal family towards a new, more open image.  1997.

 

2000s

1.         The Queen Mother waves to the crowds on her 100^th birthday watched by the Queen and Princess Margaret.  Their deaths close together robbed the Queen of two of her closest confidants.  4^th August, 2000.

2.         June 2002, The Golden Jubilee Carnival held in the Mall.

3.         2006.  The Queen continues celebrating her 80^th birthday and tours Lithuania.

4.         “I think she loves being Queen.” – a senior politician.  The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh at the Braemar Gathering.

5.         On 2^nd June, 2003 the Queen renewed her vows made at her coronation 50 years previously.  Here the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are led in procession by the Dean of Westminster at the start  of the service in Westminster Abbey.

6.         Dr. John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, with the Queen after attending the Maundy Thursday service at York Minster on 5^th April, 2012.