Royal Visit
ROYAL VISIT
Middlesex Chronicle
Feltham Bedfont
and
Hanworth Chronicle
96th Year No 44985 Friday, July 2nd 1954 Threepence
A KING AND QUEEN CALL
HOUSING ESTATE’S GREAT DAY
Bunting fluttered in the windows of a hundred homes: flags unfurled and waved in the breeze: sellers of carnival favours were infiltrating into the streets: and policemen were stationing themselves at strategic points. Inside the homes of the thousands who live at Butts Farm, families were preparing to greet a king and queen.
For on Tuesday afternoon King Gustav and Queen Louise of Sweden were to visit them as the result of their Majesties’ request to see a modern housing estate and the local population was planning a royal reception to fit the occasion.
WELCOME IN SWEDISH
In one crowded hour, three local families entertained the King and Queen at their homes; a lady who was expecting a child on the following day promised if it was a girl to name it after the Queen; a 70 years old lady who had nursed an autograph album and rehearsed her request to the King to sign forgot all about it when she met him and the King was welcomed to Twickenham by the mayor in Swedish.
By five o'clock the visitors had gone. Deserted were the streets where, shortly before had stood thousands of flag-waving, cheering children and adults, here and there lay a crumpled red, white and blue favour bearing solitary testimony to the excitement which had just passed. The people of Butts Farm had returned indoors to feast on their memories of the King and Queen who carved for themselves a niche in the hearts of these people by the charming and informal way they had smiled, waved and chatted to everyone they saw.
Those who were privileged to meet the royal couple were unanimous in their praise for the King and Queen’s humility and friendliness.
PRESENTED
About 500 people were at the junction of Hospital Bridge Road and Chertsey Road Twickenham at 3.30 where the royal party travelling in a limousine flying the Swedish royal standard met and were introduced to Twickenham Corporation’s reception party. The Mayor and Mayoress of Twickenham, Cllr and Mrs H.F. Inkpen, the retiring Mayor Cllr. F.J. Edward, the Housing Committee chairman Ald. C.E. Hastings Town Clerk and Borough Engineer Mr W.H, Jones and Mr A.S. Knolles, were all in turn presented. So were Mr H.S. Gardiner and Mr C.V. Smee the assistant architect and housing officer respectively.
Before the party proceeded 8-years-old Elizabeth Knolles daughter of the borough engineer, presented the Queen with a bouquet.
Entering Butts Farm by way of York Road one of the first things to catch the King’s eye was a gigantic Swedish flag which hung from the upstairs of No 16. The occupier Mrs Hilda Tuckman, told our reporter that she had obtained it for the occasion from the Swedish Cultural Institute. Another larger one which they also sent she had given to a nearby school where it fluttered from the flagpole.
The royal party’s first scheduled stop was at 33, FOUNTAINS CLOSE, an old people’s home occupied by MR AND MRS J.H. POOLEY. Walking down Fountain Close however, the King and Queen stopped to chat with many of the old people who were sitting by the front doors.
Outside No 33, the royal visitors were introduced to Mr Frank Towell chairman of Feltham Council, and with him and other members of the official party, they disappeared inside the Pooley’s home.
Reappearing after about ten minutes the Queen smiled and dodged back when she saw a battery of press cameras. Subsequently Mrs Pooley accompanied by the King and Queen stepped outside the front door and posed for photographs.
King Gustav and Queen Louise of Sweden visited the Twickenham borough Council’s housing estate at Butts Farm, Hanworth, on Tuesday afternoon and received an enthusiastic welcome from the tenants. This happy picture shows them chatting with Mr and Mrs J.H. Pooley at 33, Fountains Close.
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Typical of the informality of the visit was that the King took Mr Pooley by the arm and led him through the front door saying, “Come on you must be in this to”.
All too soon for Mrs and Mrs Pooley, the party had to move off leaving a slightly flushed Mrs Pooley to tell reporters, “They were a lovely couple. I think the Queen is one of the sweetest ladies I ever spoke to”.
Her husband said that the royal visitors looked over the whole home and were very interested in what they saw. “The King said it was very nice and comfortable”.
Continued Mrs Pooley “I felt embarrassed when I first met them but I didn’t feel nervous when they started speaking to me. The King spoke English beautifully”.
Naturally somewhat overawed by the occasion, it was not until the visitors had gone that Mrs Pooley realised that she had forgotten to ask the King for his autograph. She had gone to considerable trouble to get an autograph book but in the excitement it was forgotten.
Through cheering crowds the party drove to TOWFIELD COURT where their next stop was at No. 27, the home of Mr and Mrs K.A. Perkin and their 5-years-old girl. It is a week to remember for the Perkins, for on the morning of the King’s visit she was told that the child she was expecting would probably be born on the following day.
INTEREST IN HEATING
“I told the Queen that if it was a girl we would name it after her.” The King laughed and said if it’s a boy you’ll have a job calling him after me.
They looked all over the house and the King showed particular interest in the heating. The Queen said of the kitchen “What a lovely room. It’s big enough to have your meals out here.”
When the party was leaving the King chucked tiny Jill Perkins under the chin and then insisted that the family should pose with him for a photograph.
Acknowledging the cheers all the way, the King and Queen then drove to 44 CANTERBURY ROAD where they met Mr and Mrs A Waddelow and their two children. “They chatted to us just like old friends and they made us feel completely at ease.” Said Mr Waddelow. “It was marvellous”. Agreed his wife, Audrey. “I was rather frightened about it at first.”
They complimented us on our furnishings and particularly admired our bedspread.
DELIGHTFUL PLACE
With more friendly smiling to the crowd, the 71-years-old King and his wife drove from the estate in the direction of London.
Bidding farewell to Cllr Inkpen, Mayor of Twickenham, the King said that their visit was most enjoyable and that he considered Butts Farm “a delightful place”. He praised the houses, the furniture and the furnishings. His final bouquet was for the people of Butts Farm, he and his Queen were very pleased at the way the people and children of the estate had turned out in welcome, “We spent a very happy hour with them” he said.
THE END
Photo - not included as I couldn't get a clear copy
The king enjoys a joke with Cllr Towell (Chairman of Feltham Council) and Cllr Inkpen (Mayor of Twickenham). He was asking them how a Twickenham Estate came to be in Feltham.