NEWS FROM OLD GIRLS
Jo Edwards (Mabbitt 1960-67)
The Royal Visit to Colchester
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On 7th March, King Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort, visited Colchester to help us celebrate becoming a city. The date had been sprung upon the majority of Colcestrians. With little warning, we were told that they would visit the Castle and the Public Library but that was about all. City centre roads were to be closed between 7am and 2pm and from that we deduced that they would be arriving soon after 10am and leaving no later than 1.30pm. All vehicles, including buses, were excluded from the city centre.
Unfortunately, I had already organised a sizeable event at Grey Friars that morning. I realised that I would have to postpone it and notify everyone due to come. However, on the big day, worried by the number of people who might not have picked up their emails or phone messages, I decided to drive to Grey Friars to apologise to anyone who turned up for the event and to tell them to return the following week. It wasn’t fair to leave that to the reception desk staff.
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Arriving at the roadblock on East Hill, I turned right into Roman Road and Grey Friars car park and didn’t see this wonderful banner (right) across the front of East Hill House, opposite Grey Friars, a building owned by the company who
also own the hotel, until I sat down in a very comfy chair by the window in Reception.
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The sun was streaming in, my coffee arrived (I hadn’t ordered it but they know what I like!) and I relaxed. I couldn’t go home until the roads reopened so I set up my iPad thinking I might get some emails done - or, on the other hand, I might not! I watched people hurrying by to take up their places against the crowd barriers in High Street, hoping to catch sight of the royal couple. I didn’t envy them. It was freezing out there! Sometime later, the hotel manager, Glen, appeared. He came over for a chat. I commented on the banner opposite and discovered that there was also one on the front of Grey Friars. We decided that the chances of the King and Queen Consort coming up East Hill were infinitesimal but the banners were rather nice anyway so it didn’t really matter. He got me another coffee (my third) and returned to the kitchen.
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​By this time, the street outside was empty. Everybody was already by the barriers outside the Park. I looked at my phone. It was 11.47am. I realised that our royal visitors must be thinking about leaving the Castle. I thought about wandering up to join the rest of the crowds to see them drive up High Street but quickly decided to stay put! Suddenly, there was the sound of pounding feet and Glen appeared, running full tilt across reception towards the main door, other staff in hot pursuit. As he flew past me, holding his phone in one hand and a small Union Jack on a stick in the other, the most incongruous sight imaginable, he yelled, ‘They’ve only just arrived! They’re coming up the hill!’
I swivelled round in time to see him dashing across the road, narrowly missing the first police outrider at the front of the cavalcade. As he reached the kerb the other side, he pirouetted and held up his phone to take a photo whilst waving his little flag as they went past. I, of course, had a grandstand view! The King was on my side so I saw him pointing at the Grey Friars banner, as the car swept by. He had a huge smile on his face, as he read it: "Grey Friars welcomes King Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort!".
Glen came back in like a dog with two tails. He came straight to me and showed me his photos. He was thrilled with them. I asked whether he would allow me to share them with you and he told me that he would love it if I did.
Why were they so late? Apparently, it was so cold that their helicopter wouldn’t start! How very pleased I was that I wasn’t with my little grandson, Jimmy, (right) and his Mum, who had been standing at those barriers for over three hours. I missed out on the freebie Burger King cardboard crown, though! Shame!
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