The Queen shines despite the rain as Royal standard flies from town hall

From Stockport to Stalybridge by way of Marple, Werneth Low, Mottram, Hyde and Dukinfield, thousands turned out to give the warmest of welcomes to the Queen on Thursday 16 May 1968.

It was a day they would never forget, an historic first ever official visit to this area by a reigning monarch.

Grey skies and rain failed to dampen the high spirits of the crowds gathered along the route. Young and old alike stood cheering and waving flags, all hoping to catch a glimpse of the Queen dressed in turquoise blue. The royal car, a maroon Rolls Royce with huge windows and a glass roof, slowed down to give them a better view.

The visit was intended as a royal ‘thank you’ to everyone involved with Operation Springclean, the grassroots campaign to rid the region of ‘the grimy industrial hangover of the last century’.

There were several ‘before and after’ contrasts to observe as the royal contingent travelled between towns and she met many of those who had been involved in each local area.

In Marple, the Queen was shown improvements to the Peak Forest Canal.

On Werneth Low, she pulled a lever to machine-plant a 35ft-high sycamore tree and was introduced to Walter Mansfield, local farmer and landlord of the Hare and Hounds inn who had given the land. She also met farmers who had lost cattle in the recent foot and mouth epidemic.

Despite the mist and rain, the Queen was able to appreciate the breathtaking view from the Low, taking in the rugged landscape of the Peak District, the industrial areas towards Stockport and overlooking Hyde, Denton and Ashton towards Oldham and Manchester.

From there, her journey continued down Joel Lane to the waiting crowds at Gee Cross and on to Hattersley where more than 2,000 children thronged Ashworth Lane including coachloads of Tintwistle and Longdendale pupils. Broadbottom Primary children walked two miles from their village.

The bells of Mottram Parish Church rang out as the royal car headed towards Hyde, passing the freshly repainted Crown Pole and several recently tidied former ‘grot spots’.

With the Royal Standard flying for the first time over the town hall, Hyde gave a tumultuous welcome to Queen Elizabeth II.

The North Cheshire Herald reported that ‘schoolchildren and pensioners, shop girls, office workers and many from mills and factories’ descended on the town centre to cheer her arrival.

The royal car approached from Mottram Road, crossing over to Greenfield Street and slowly passing the health offices enclosure where youngsters with special needs from Grange Road Centre had been given a vantage point.

The Rolls Royce pulled up outside the town hall for the official presentations which took place under a 20ft square blue and gold awning. A beautiful floral display had been arranged around the entrance, with a 6ft crown as the centre piece.

Alderman John Grundy, vice chairman of Hyde Operation Springclean committee and Fred Blackburn, MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, were among the local dignitaries introduced to the Queen.

The Mayor of Hyde, Cllr Ira Stopford had insisted on travelling from Barnes Hospital, Cheadle, where he was a patient, determined not to miss the greatest day of his mayoral year.

The Queen also met young people involved in the clean-up campaign: Brian Harrop (22), senior member of Hyde Lads Club; Sandra Leigh (18),  Girl Guide leader from Mottram and Graham Kevin Davies (12), of Hattersley, a Hollingworth Scout patrol leader.

The monarch walked across to the market to chat with some of the stallholders and see the new £750,000 shopping centre. She seemed particularly impressed with the array of around 40 ‘brilliantly coloured continental-type stalls’ as described by the Herald.

Speaking to Alderman Grundy, the Queen asked: “Are there are any good bargains on the market?”

After her look around, she told him: “Hyde is certainly going ahead.”

As the rain began to clear, Dukinfield was the next stop on the tour. On the way, the Queen was given a fleeting glance of the 14th Century Newton Hall with its newly created amenity gardens.

Arriving at William Kenyon and Sons’ Chapelfield works for a presentation on the proposed Tame Valley restoration, she met teenagers Philip Rushton from 3rd Dukinfield Scouts, Linda Burns, of Windsor Drive and Gary Richardson, of Dewsnap Lane, who had all helped to clear local eyesore sites.

Along the route which the Queen would follow through Stalybridge before joining the royal train, residents, retailers and other businesses had been asked to make a special effort to decorate their premises.

Ahead of the royal visit, Stalybridge Council announced a blitz on eyesore sites and buildings. The order went out that windows of derelict houses would be boarded-up and fencing bordering the canal would be painted.

Viewing points were arranged for schoolchildren to gather at 12.15pm on the big day. Headteachers were asked to rearrange the times of school meals so that as many children as possible could enjoy the experience.

Reflecting on the Queen’s triumphant tour of our region, those lucky enough to have a close-up view talked about her charm, her genuine interest in Operation Springclean, her friendliness, her understanding - and her off-the-cuff comments which put everyone at ease.

It was clear she enjoyed the visit as summed up by our reporting team:  “From the moment she stepped from her car at Possett Bridge, Marple with the comment ‘Isn’t this a beautiful part of Cheshire?’ to her last words in Stalybridge ‘It’s wonderful’, she was full of praise.”

“How young she looks!” was a comment frequently heard during the Queen’s visit.

With her semi-fitted turquoise coat she had chosen a soft French navy and turquoise printed silk hat, pleated at the back which was much admired as being both smart and practical for a rainy day.

The royal attire also included three-quarter length black gloves and two-inch heel shoes, a pearl necklace, ear-rings and brooch.

Observers agreed the overall effect was one of ‘casual elegance.’

Surging crowds at Stalybridge station were given limited freedom by ‘understanding police officers’ to get a close-up view of the Queen as she made her way to the platform.

Resplendent in his red robes, the town mayor Alderman HA Myers, and his wife the Mayoress Mrs Nellie Myers were among the local dignitaries presented to the Queen.

Others included the town clerk Douglas Leeming, area railway manager Mr R Atkinson, Alderman Charles Meredith (Mayor elect and chairman of the Springclean local action committee).

Having boarded the train which would take her to Darwen, Lancashire, the Queen remained in view of the crowded platform framed by an open window.

Our reporter noted that “her charming smile and friendly wave of goodbye as the train pulled out brought murmurs of admiration from those assembled to see her departure.”