The Rural Voice, 1993-01, Page 30TP4IN
STATION
26 THE RURAL VOICE
The
Royal I
Visit
How a group of children made a big
impression on a young princess...
...and she on them
BY WALLY ARMSTRONG
In 1951, as an itinerant music teacher in Western
Ontario, it was my pleasant duty to take a small part in
developing a five -hundred voice children's choir to greet
Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh. A ten-
minute stop had been arranged at the Woodstock railway
station.
Our contribution was a small group from the elementary
grades. The songs were quickly learned and full choir
rehearsals were held in London arena. Our little group
added its bit with good authority. It was a wonderful
experience for all, and the final result was quite good.
The ten-minute stop was scheduled for six p.m. and the
choir was assembled early, but the appointed time arrived
and — no train. Word came that it was a half hour late,
which became seven o'clock and still no train. Everyone
admires the adaptability of children, and this was a good
example. They sat on the ground, leaned against each
other, we sang some kid songs. Word that they were
coming came so often that we stopped getting to our feet
until, shortly after eight o'clock, the whistle of an
approaching train told us it was for real. In a moment we
were an eager group again, ready to go.
Remembering our rehearsals, when the train had stopped
we started our welcoming piece. It started very well, then
— but you couldn't blame the kids. It's downright hard to
concentrate when your main interest is in two red -coated
officers coming from the train, followed by a young lady,
obviously the Princess, but she could have been any one of
the kids' moms. This was followed by two more red -coats,
backing her up protectively. Then came an athletic looking
young man, her husband the Duke, also surrounded by
redcoats fore and aft. When our slightly off-key piece
finished she waved and smiled to us. It was the smile of a
highly educated musicologist who understood. They
started to walk among us.
They walked slowly, the redcoats watching every move.
At first their protectiveness seemed to me rather ridiculous,
then facts became obvious — we were seeing a tiny bit of
Royal pageantry. Also, this was a very precious couple
who would someday be our Queen and her Consort. When
she passed me our eyes met for a passing moment and there