Aberdeen people turned out in their tens of thousands to celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977.
And, even now, the pictures from that joyous occasion 45 years ago, testify to the popularity of the monarch as she and Prince Philip completed a string of different engagements, while being cheered to the rafters on their travels.
They royal couple were greeted by clear blue skies and residents of all ages, and were clearly in their element, whether waving to the crowds at the palatial Marischal College or meeting myriad small children, who had gathered flowers which they carried along with their Union flags for the big occasion.
This wasn’t simply an opportunity for everybody to toast Her Majesty’s health. On the contrary, she was involved in a busy programme of activities, which included the official opening of the new Town House extension – and the former Grampian Regional Council’s HQ at Woodhill House went smoothly.
The engagements included a visit to the Seaforth Maritime Oil Supply and Servicing base at Aberdeen Harbour; a walkabout among the large crowd at Broad Street; a look-in at an old folks’ home, where the Queen was welcomed by her audience with something approaching reverence; and a whistle-stop tour of a youth exhibition in the Music Hall on Union Street.
The Press & Journal reported on the occasion and talked to some of the people who had been fortunate to actually meet the Queen. And although, there was a small demonstration by left-wing activists, protesting at the cost of the Jubilee festivities, they were “drowned out by the cheering voices of the thousands who thronged Broad Street and sang ‘God Save the Queen”.
Even as they walked past Marischal House, the Royal couple stopped frequently to talk to the hordes of well-wishers. They looked on admiringly at one of the musical ensembles who performed at Woodhill House, the Gordon Highlanders Military Band, 1st Battalion, who had travelled back from troubled Belfast just the previous day to participate in the celebrations.
There was a special thrill for five winners of the Press and Journal’s Queen’s Quiz contest, the VIP guests who attended afternoon tea with the Queen.
We reported at the time: “One winner, 11-year-old Ann Hay from Elgin, even got into conversation with the Duke….to her great delight.
“The contest winners, from the five districts in Grampian Region, got the chance to see the Royal party at close quarters as part of their prize.
“Another young girl, 10-year-old Emily Hall from Inverurie, said later: ‘It was wonderful to be so near to them and they were so friendly to us.
“This is one of the most exciting days of my life and I will never forget it.”
Many shops and businesses were closed for the day and children had been given a school holiday, which many used to commemorate the Royal visit.
But, despite the vast numbers of spectators and tourists in the city centre, the P&J said: “There was no repetition of the Dundee ‘mobbing’ situation which had caused some alarm on the visit the previous day.
“And while security was very strict, there was an informality about much of the proceedings with the Queen, in particular, evidently enjoying herself.”
The Royal presence at the Music Hall offered a special thrill to many of the youngsters in attendance, who had never known anything like it.
As the P&J reported: “The undisputed star of this part of the visit was eight-year-old Jill Buchanan of Airyhall. With a coy expression and maximum charm, she presented the Queen with a bouquet of lily of the valley.
The visit ran like clockwork
“Although the tour of the Music Hall exhibits may have been relaxing for the Royal party, it was something of an exacting occasion for the Queen’s guide, Mrs Isobel Chrystie of Rosemount in the city. For her, it was the culmination of six months of hard work – work rewarded by the Queen’s enthusiasm.
“With time in hand, the Queen and Prince Philip had ample opportunity to chat with various organisers and supervisors at the different stands. Of special interest to them was a glider identical to the one which Prince Andrew had flown to ‘gain his wings’ while he had been at Gordonstoun.”
As the trip reached its conclusion, Flt Lt Sandy Reid, the officer in charge of the gliding school at RAF Kinloss, said the Queen has asked him about training and his role in the school curriculum.
That was more diplomatic than when, on their visit to Rosewell Old People’s Home on King’s Gate, Prince Philip asked a 19-year-old student from Harris, Joyce Cattanach “if the old men chased her up and down the corridor”.
He then turned to 82-year-old Fred Coutts and remarked: “The only reason you don’t chase her is that you wouldn’t know what to do if you caught her.”
At that point, the conversation turned to other matters!
