Records of Jubilation

Published in Windlesora 19 (2002)

© WLHG

To celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II a small book was published by the Teachers’ Centre Consultative Committee of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

It was called Records of Jubilation and contained newspaper reports, and entries from school log books showing how the school children of the borough had celebrated previous jubilees, and the coronation in 1953. It also contained the two following passages from the journal of Queen Victoria:

June 23rd, 1887

‘At 1/2p. 5 drove down through the town still quite ‘en fete’, past the S. Western Station, and there all along the road to Datchet were drawn up Departments of Volunteer Fire Brigades, from all over England, Scotland and Wales, all in different uniforms. After having driven down the line, we turned up the avenue in the Home Park where on the grass, 6,000 children of the neighbourhood had been regaled with tea under a big tent, and games had been provided for them. They were all drawn up in lines cheering vociferously.’

June 25th, 1897

‘Drove at 1/4p. 5 with the 2 Vickys*, the others following, into the first field, under the Castle, near the S.W. station in which 6,000 children from different school in the neighbourhood were assembled, and were being feasted in Celebration of my Jubilee. Afterwards drove across the High Road to another field, where Fire Brigades, some from all parts of England were drawn up.’

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Notes

* Victoria, Dowager Empress of Germany and the Queen’s eldest daughter, and her daughter, another Victoria.