Memories are made of this

Chicken and egg situation! In 1977, when the Poultry Club of Great Britain celebrated its centenary, it presented its patron the Queen Mother with a trio of Buff Orpingtons, a breed of large British poultry. For many years the birds were kept by Arthur Hammond Browne, of North Wootton, near King’s Lynn. He showed them, and the Queen Mother regularly saw them at the fur and feather section of Sandringham Flower Show. Mr Hammond Browne often sent her some eggs and a young table bird. Honey for tea There was always amused speculation during the Queen Mother’s annual visit to Sandringham Flower Show about the fate of the covered coat hangers she bought from the Women’s Institute. Her purchases included in addition matinee coats, booties and babies’ shawls. She also patronised Norwich Institute for the Blind’s marquee. But a favourite call was at the beekeepers’ tent where the Royal party eagerly stocked up with honey.

ALISON CROOSE,
former West Norfolk news editor
Over the years, hundreds of Norfolk people proudly retain cherished memories of meeting the Queen Mother.

My proudest day was the eve of the Queen Mother’s 85th birthday . . . the day I was summoned to Sandringham.

The EDP wanted to give the Queen Mother an album of colour photos recalling her busy week of engagements in Norfolk. It was hoped that as “Royal watcher” in West Norfolk for 10 years I could hand over the memento when the Queen Mother arrived in King’s Lynn for the special birthday concert in her honour.

But the day before, I received an urgent message: “Be at Sandringham House in an hour.”

I dashed home, left a trail of devastation through the house and scribbled a message for my husband: “Gone to see the Queen Mum at Sandringham.”

I was led along thickly carpeted corridors and there she was, looking just as we will always remember her – the floating floral dress, the veiled hat, the corgis at her feet . . . the smile.

That most famous of Royal smiles, which has enchanted millions all over the world, was for me. As the ubiquitous reporter covering her many and varied public outings in West Norfolk, I had often been at the receiving end of that warm, spontaneous greeting.

So that when, as a King’s Lynn Festival committee member, I first had the privilege of being presented to the Queen Mother, she waved aside introductions with a friendly “Yes, I know her.”

It was still surprising that out of my “patch”, and without a notebook, she spotted me at a race meeting and stopped to exchange greetings.

But it was quite amazing – and very touching – that she should recognise me when our paths crossed on the tiny Channel Island of Sark. The Queen Mother was on an official visit. I was on holiday. And, despite the shorts and T-shirt I was wearing, and the hired bike I was pushing, she recognised the face which she normally associated with Lynn Festival, Sandringham Flower Show and chilly mornings outside Sandringham Church.

She stopped for a chat about the encounter so far from West Norfolk. And two months later on the way to the festival’s opening concert she deviated from her path, anxious to hear if my holiday had been a success.

A few days later in a marquee full of flowers at Sandringham Show, the Queen Mother told me: “We meet in so many different places, don’t we?”

And, on the eve of her 85th birthday at Sandringham, she spoke again about that chance encounter in Sark. “We do meet in such interesting places,” she said.

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