Last weekend, my friend and local history enthusiast, Robert Newman, presented me with an old copy of ‘The Salisbury Times And South Wilts Gazette’ dated Friday, July 4, 1958.

The main article featured the arrival of the Queen Mother to Salisbury and carried this little report;

“How well behaved adult English people are. This struck me forcibly on Saturday when the Queen Mother came here.

Naturally, everyone was anxious to see as much as they could, but there was no attempt to encroach beyond the limits prescribed by the police.

One policeman patrolling Catherine Street had no trouble at all in keeping everyone on the pavement, and, if anyone did step into the roadway during the waiting period, it only wanted him to walk their way and they were back in line again.

I wonder where else in the world there are people who so respect the law and who, without question, take authority, and take it so cheerfully?

I expect there were many outside who would like to have been in the Cathedral for the service, and in the Palace grounds for the garden party, but it must be remembered that privileges often carry responsibilities.

For instance, on Saturday, whilst one could choose one’s place and time outside the church, and could come and go as one pleased, a ticket for the service meant being in one’s seat at 2.15 and staying put.

This, for various reasons, which I need not mention, can, at times, be most unpleasant.

Then, for the garden party, there would be expenses, say, for a hair “do,” new cloths, a new hat, and so forth. It isn’t all honey, but I suppose it will be ever thus; those who are outside will want to get in, and some who are inside will want to get out. That’s our nature.”