In Celebration Of The Queen’s 90th Birthday, We look At Some Memorable Visits To Leeds

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This month as the nation celebrates Queen Elizabeth II’s official 90th birthday there are many events taking place from Trooping the Colour to street parties and other community tributes. In the last few months there have been lots of celebrations, many attended by the Queen herself. Documentaries about the Queen including comments from family and friends have made excellent and interesting viewing, showing a more private side to her as well as the public side we see more regularly. Her Majesty’s commitment to duty and the love of her country leaves no doubt she has set a remarkable example for future monarchs. Even at 90 the Queen remains very active in her duties and continues to do ‘the job’ outstandingly. Britain’s longest reigning monarch has visited many countries throughout the world and many counties in England including Yorkshire. Here we take a look back at some memorable visits to Leeds. On the 17th October 1958 the Queen and Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh visited Burtons Tailoring factory. The royal pair were given an honorary tour where they were welcomed with screams and songs of ‘Rule Britannia’ and ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ from the 7,000 workers lining the walkways, excited and eager to show off their work. The Queen was introduced to some outstanding members of the workforce who had been employed for over 30 years, and after being shown the different stages in the process of manufacturing the suits, was presented with a display of the final products. The Burtons visit was part of a two-day tour of Leeds where they also visited Harewood House, Leeds University and Leeds City Art Gallery.
October 22nd 1965 it was a foggy day as The Queen arrived at Cross Gates train station in Leeds and then was driven through the crowded streets which included a pack of Brownies welcoming Her Majesty on her way to open the new Seacroft Civic Centre (now replaced by the Tesco Extra). Later Her Majesty and Prince Philip who had accompanied her stopped off at a house in Kentmere Avenue for a cup of tea with the delighted Lyons family. One young lad called Peter who was fifteen at the time and from Stanks remembers the day well. He said, ” everyone was really excited, even all the hedges on the route the Queen took had been cut in preparation for her visit! I was one of many stood waiting for the royal car to drive past and when it did I saw the Queen and Prince Philip, people around me were all waving flags. Although it had been a foggy, damp day people eventually went home treasuring memories of that day when the Queen came to Seacroft.”
Then & Now Crowds Welcome The Queen
The Queen has visited Leeds for all the jubilee celebrations – her Silver Jubilee in 1977, her Golden Jubilee in 2002 and most recently, in 2012 as part of the Diamond Jubilee tour. On this visit the Queen accompanied by Prince Philip, visited Leeds Arena which was at that time still under construction. They chatted to builders and watched a musical performance and an acrobatic display. For a chance to Win A Royal Mint Queen’s 90th Birthday Commemorative Coin go to the competitions page.

From there it was on to the newly refurbished City Varieties with a performance from the City Varieties Youth Theatre Company based on the famous show The Good Old Days.
In Briggate, excited crowds had gathered to greet the Queen as she did a walk about. Some children waiting to give flowers were lifted over the barriers after his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh spoke to the children and asked the royal aides to lift them over so they could hand them to the Queen themselves – which was lovely for them and will be remembered by the children forever!
The Queen has certainly left a lot of Leeds people with some great memories that are sure to be shared for many years to come and we at the Yorkshire Reporter wish Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II a very Happy 90th Birthday.

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