The fact that this weekend 1,775 street parties are being held in the UK reflects just how much the British public respect Queen Elizabeth as she celebrates her Platinum Jubilee, marking the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne. The stamina of the 96-year-old monarch is quite remarkable.
I've always had a soft spot for Queen Elizabeth, partly because she was responsible for our household getting its first television.
I was too young to remember much about George VI's death in February 1952.
I do recall my mum and dad sitting in the kitchen listening to the news on our large brown wireless that had served our household so well during World War II. Along our street all the curtains were closed as a sign of mourning.
However, I certainly remember Queen Elizabeth's coronation in June the following year. Like many British people my parents bought their first television set in 1953 so they could watch the coronation.
We lived in a cul-de-sac of 16 houses and were one of the few with a TV, so on Coronation Day the neighbours piled into our living room to view the proceedings on our most prized possession -- a 12-inch Bush television.
We had to close all the curtains again but for very different reasons to the year before. It was necessary to keep the daylight out to ensure the room was dark enough for a decent television picture.
Despite the black-and-white picture the golden carriage looked absolutely magnificent to my young eyes. It was just like a fairy tale.
My poor mum missed most of the proceedings as she spent the whole time making cucumber sandwiches and cups of tea for the coronation watchers.
The age of steam
I had a brief reminder of those historic events on a visit to England a couple of years ago. I was on a day trip to Dorset with a fellow railway enthusiast to enjoy a ride on a steam train on the Swanage Railway.
Among the beautiful engines operating that day was the Britannia built in 1951, which nearly 70 years previously had hauled the funeral train of King George VI from Kings Lynn to London.
Watching this famous engine chugging past Corfe Castle was a sight to behold, and I wondered how many aboard the train were aware of its solemn role back in 1952.
One worrying thought was that I was older than the engine, but thankfully younger than the 11th century castle.
Corgi power
Queen Elizabeth is of course very much associated with her love of corgi dogs. She currently has two corgis, one "dorgi" (a cross between a Dachshund and a corgi), and a cocker spaniel called Lissy.
Corgis are well represented in the vast amount of royal memorabilia currently on sale. There are corgi mugs, corgi miniskirts, corgi leggings and a corgi air freshener. There is even a brisk trade in Union Jack bow ties for dogs. Then there are the usual royal tea towels, placemats, slippers, cushions, biscuits and a cuddly Jubilee Teddy Bear … and who could resist a jubilee garden gnome?
A special mention also to the unfortunate Chinese manufacturer who made more than 10,000 souvenir mugs and plates all carrying the precious words "Platinum Jubbly". Not so lubbly jubbly.
Love song
Among many UK celebrities who have displayed great respect for the British monarch is former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney. In his short song Her Majesty from the Abbey Road album McCartney sings with affection: "Her Majesty is a pretty nice girl/but she doesn't have a lot to say…." and goes on to inform us "I'd like to tell her I love her a lot/but I've got to get a bellyful of wine."
At the time of the coronation McCartney was aged 10 and won a prize for an essay he wrote on the subject in which he referred to "our, lovely young queen" and noted Britain's "present day royalty rules with affection rather than force".
Who's that lady?
I've seen Queen Elizabeth in person only twice, both fleeting glimpses when she whizzed by in a limousine.
The first was back in 1957 when she visited my home town of Reading to open part of the university. I was among the thousands of schoolkids lining the street to greet Her Majesty and wave miniature Union Jacks. We had taken up position hours before she arrived and amused ourselves during the long wait by cheering every vehicle that passed by, even people on bicycles. We didn't mind the wait because it was a day off from school. When the motorcade finally arrived it only lasted a few seconds but I did catch sight of Her Majesty in a yellow hat.
Fifteen years later I had another glimpse as she whizzed past the Bangkok Post office on Ratchadamnoen Avenue. I actually saw the "royal wave" which made my day.
Pattaya garden party
Locally, the Royal British Legion Thailand Branch holds a "Jubilee Garden Party" at the Retreat Lawn Bowling Club in Nong Prue, Pattaya on Saturday, June 11, from 2.00pm.
Contact PostScript via email at oldcrutch@hotmail.com
