Rhubarb Issue 12: November 2023

MEMORIES marvellous

I n recent times we have witnessed some important national occasions and milestones with the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the change of Prime Minister (twice) and the Coronation of the new King.We were interested to find out which significant moments you remember celebrating whilst at Teddies and are grateful, as always, for those who wrote in and shared their memories.

1965 WINSTON CHURCHILL’S FUNERAL AND THE ARCHBISHOP

OF CANTERBURY’S VISIT Richard Rivett (Sing’s, 1962-1967) W inston Churchill died in 1965. After a magnificent state funeral in London he was buried at Bladon, a village a few miles north of Oxford. His coffin travelled by rail. The line ran alongside the

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border to our school playing fields. When the train came by, I stood with

1953 HMQUEEN

many others watching in respect and admiration as arguably one of the greatest men in British history passed. W hen I was very junior Warden Fisher invited his father to attend a chapel service at the School. When it finished, I went to my dayroom in the original Sing’s opposite the chapel exit and to my surprise, following close behind me, was the Warden and his father. They joined me at my horsebox and the Warden introduced me to his father who shook my hand. After a brief conversation they departed leaving me stunned because I knew that he was the Archbishop of Canterbury who had conducted the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Winston Churchill’s coffin travelled by rail to Bladon

ELIZABETH II’S CORONATION Roger Bowen (Cowell’s, 1947-1953)

T he Coronation was on 2nd June 1953, and six of the senior pupils of St Edward’s were delegated to attend. We went up to London on 1st June, and I remember John Whicker (Segar’s, 1948-1953) and one other staying with me at my parents’ home in Hampton. In the morning we had to dress in our Combined Cadet Force (CCF) uniform and go to our location on the Queen Victoria Monument just outside Buckingham Palace, where we had a marvellous view of the procession going and returning, most of it in the pouring rain.

Especially notable was the Queen of Tonga sitting regally and soaking wet in her open carriage. It was an unforgettable occasion.

I think it was probably chance that they chose me, but it was a great honour, nevertheless. It was definitely something other than my sport to write home about.

The Queen of Tonga

Queen Elizabeth receives the Sceptre with the Cross, from the Archbishop of Canterbury

1972 THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S VISIT TO ST EDWARD’S Matthew Kaser (Cowell’s, 1970-1975)

I remember when the Duke of Edinburgh visited I viewed him from across the Quad – we were lined up by the Old School and he was reviewing the cadets in front of the Headmaster's lodgings. I recognise three of the boys in the photo: From left: Theo Hull, Anil Varma, and Adrian Turner, all from my year.

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