Queen visits Romford
6 March 2003
H.M. Queen Elizabeth II visited the London Borough of Havering for the first time in her 51 years as Queen. She stopped first at the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch, then a visit to Romford town centre, followed by a trip to a school in Harold Wood to meet the schoolboy who had requested her visit.
The following written information is adapted from the official website at http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page2160.asp including official photographs in the text. This is followed by a selection of my own photographs at the bottom of the page and on the next page.
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The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were visiting Romford Market during a day's engagements in the London Borough of Havering. In bright Spring sunshine, large crowds turned out to see the Royal couple, with the streets a sea of red, white and blue flags. |
Having greeted crowds at the market entrance, The Queen and The Duke walked through on adjacent sides, stopping to view stalls and speak to market traders. The Queen spoke to John Bush, who has had a grocery stall on Romford Market for 30 years, and Tony Luscombe, who offered a gift to The Queen in the form of a king-size quilt cover. “I hope you like it,” he said. |
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Romford Market celebrated its 750th anniversary in 1997, having been inaugurated by one of The Queen's ancestors, King Henry III. It was not the first royal connection of the day however, which began at the Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch, named after Her Majesty and opened in her coronation year by Sir Ralph Richardson. The theatre is a busy producing theatre with a professional company of actors and musicians and a core creative team of designers and directors. It also delivers a varied education and outreach programme. |
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were able to see the Youth Theatre in action, performing a song from Willy Russell's “Our Day Out” and the theatre's professional resident company, who presented an extract from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's “The Lost World”. The Queen unveiled a plaque to launch the Queen's Theatre's 50th anniversary celebrations. |
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The Queen and Prince Philip then headed to separate destinations: The Queen to a community venue and The Duke to an insurance company. HAVCO (Havering Association for Voluntary and Community Organisations) was commissioned by Havering Council in early 2002 to review the availability and use of premises by voluntary and community groups in the borough. The association realised that there was a need for a meeting place and office accommodation that enjoyed easy access and decided on a local building, now called Community House. |
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The building now offers accommodation for a variety of organisations and businesses, such as the Havering Race Equality Partnership and the Muslim Women's Foundation. The Queen met with local councillors and representatives from some of the organisations who use the building. She then unveiled a plaque to officially open the facility. Meanwhile The Duke of Edinburgh visited AON Ltd., the largest insurance broker in the UK. AON is heavily represented in Romford, employing some 1,500 people and is also involved in community schemes. His Royal Highness met the chairman and directors to hear about AON's work, both in the business world and in the local community. He was also given a presentation on the advantages of a 'paperless office' and a talk on terrorism and the kidnap and ransom field. |
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The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh met up again outside Community House, where they undertook a walkabout, before heading off to Romford Market. Having been reminded that Henry III had granted a charter to Romford Market, The Queen and Prince Philip were reminded of another historic English king when they entered the church of St. Edward the Confessor, King of England between 1042 and 1066. There has been a church on the site since 1410 and it currently dominates the skyline with its 30-metre tall spire. The Queen and Prince Philip met the vicar, the Reverend Stephen Waine, before attending a drinks reception, held within the church itself. After signing the visitors’ book, the Royal couple left for lunch at the nearby Wykeham Centre. |
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The final venue of the day was the Redden Court School in Harold Wood. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were visiting the school at the request of one of its pupils. George Barlow, 14. He had been disappointed that The Queen had been unable to visit the area during her busy Golden Jubilee year and so he wrote to Buckingham Palace to ask whether she might like to come in 2003. To his great delight, the answer was positive. The Queen met with George at the entrance to the school in the initial line-up at the school and he later featured in a play performed for Her Majesty and His Royal Highness in the school hall. |
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Redden Court is a comprehensive school with 600 pupils, serving mainly the catchment area of Harold Wood. In the course of her visit, The Queen, accompanied by the Headmaster Peter Townrow, toured three classrooms, while The Duke of Edinburgh met Award Scheme winners and joined in with a geography lesson. The Queen was particularly interested in the special needs class, where she discussed projects relating to Australian temperatures in comparison to Britain and helped in a discussion taking place on one table regarding the media. Then she unveiled a plaque, before she and Prince Philip were presented with gifts to mark their visit. The Queen received a posy and the Duke a picture before The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh left by helicopter from the school field. |
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You may also view a selection of my own photos here in addition to the ones shown below
(© David King 2003).
The Queen walks through the grounds of the Church of St. Edward the Confessor in Romord Market |
The Duke of Edinburgh talks to members of the crowds as he and the Queen arrive at Romford Market |
The Queen walks around Romford Market |
A local band played for the Queen as she departed, and for the crowds after she was gone |
| Further links relating to this royal story: | |
| Havering official site | |