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 July
25, 2001
It is only 10 days to the Queen Mother’s 101st birthday
but that did not stop her from enjoying Sandringham
Flower Show just as much as ever. See
pictures
She has visited the show for as long as anyone can
remember but her enthusiasm for the event is undiminished.
“It gets better and better,” was how the Queen Mother
summed up one of her favourite days of the year.
The only concession she made to her age today was to
use her customised golf buggy for her 100- minute tour
of the showground.
From the moment the Queen Mother, accompanied by the
Prince of Wales, arrived in an open horse-drawn carriage,
there were cheers and applause for the royal visitors.
There was a formal welcome from Essex Police Band which
played the National Anthem, and then the informality
which is the hallmark of the occasion took over as the
Queen Mother and Prince Charles were greeted by the
familiar faces of show chairman David Reeve and members
of the organising committee.
The Queen Mother, wearing a pale acquamarine outfit
with her trademark brimmed and veiled hat, switched
from the open carriage to her buggy which is decorated
in her racing colours of pale blue and old gold. It
is a mode of transport which proves very useful on such
occasions and she directed her chauffeur Arthur Barty
to swing round so she could speak to well-wishers waiting
with flowers and other gifts.
The warmth of the welcome from crowds standing up to
10 deep was clear, many of them choosing to “say it
with flowers.”
Soon police officers were ferrying baskets full of
posies, bouquets and arrangements to the royal cars.
Then the royal party went into the scent-laden marquees
full of flowers, fruit and vegetable entered in the
cottagers classes. The heat was oppressive and while
stewards and judges felt they were wilting the Queen
Mother was eager to hear all the about the show and
as keen as ever to renew the acquaintance of so many
people who live and work on the Sandringham estate whom
she has known for years.
She was also anxious to find out how gardeners had
coped with the wet weather and commented on how flourishing
everything looked despite the problems of recent months.
The Queen Mother made her usual call on rose-grower
Peter Beales who gave her samples of two roses, the
pink Happy Anniversary and yellow Clarence House. Prince
Charles, too, spent some time in the marquees chatting
to Jill Agg of Choice Landscapes of West Walton about
the plants in her display and to Henry Head of Norfolk
Lavender about plants he had on show.
There was another wave of cheers and applause when
the Queen Mother emerged into the sunshine to receive
still more flowers and gifts.
Prince Charles is always happy to let his grandmother
take centre stage on this special day and he follows
some distance behind, stopping to chat earnestly about
gardens and gardening.
He inquired of vegetable judges Les Secker and Sid
Lancaster how to grow the sort of long runner beans
which were on show while ensuring they remained tender.
He was told the beans needed intensive cultivation.
The Queen Mother visited Sandringham Women’s Institute,
of which she is president, King’s Lynn and District
Beekepers, Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind,
the Red Cross, Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry, met King’s
Lynn ATC Squadron and ended her tour at Sandringham
Association of Royal Warrantholders who presented her
with a large basket of strawberries.
When she returned to Sandringham House in the open
carriage Mr Reeve spoke of the Queen Mother’s continued
enthusiasm for the show. “She told me it gets better
and better,” he said. “Her interest and support today
was as great as ever.”
Mr Reeve thought the size of the crowd at least equalled
last year’s 20,000. “The warmth of the feelings from
the crowd towards the Queen Mother are amazing. She
brings out the best in everyone. “She enjoys absolutely
everything. She loves it all, from the flowers, fruit
and vegetables in the marquee to meeting so many people
she knows. Everyone and everything on the royal estate
is very close to her heart.”
Mr Reeve said the buggy enabled the Queen Mother to
enjoy the show in comfort and to cover even more ground.
“She knows the route so well and is able to speak to
people on either side.”
The show committee is already making plans for next
year’s royal visit. “We know she will be back next year,”
said Mr Reeve.
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| Buy
photos from this year's Sandringham Flower Show |
CLICK
HERE for a selection of pictures from the flower
show. If you have any queries about these or pictures
you have seen in the EDP, contact Jill Riches at
Eastern Counties Newspapers or phone 01603 772175.
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