The headline on the front page of the Bury Times on Wednesday, October 20th 1954 declared,
“BOROUGH PREPARES TREMENDOUS WELCOME FOR ROYAL VISITORS.”
The correspondent wrote, “With only 48 hours to go before the Royal visit, Bury is gay with flags and bunting and the townspeople are preparing to give the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh a tremendous welcome.”
Sixty-Eight years have passed since her majesty visited Bury to open the new Town Hall, which had taken 16 years to complete but to some, it still feels like yesterday.
Rain-soaked crowds waited for hours to grab a glimpse of the Queen and I have been lucky enough to speak with local residents who were there on the day. Lifelong memories linking Queen Elizabeth to our town.
Next month, the bunting and flags will once again be flying in Bury to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with more than 40 street parties and numerous events to commemorate 70 years of service to our country.
Over the last seven decades, our country and the world have gone through immense social and political change, but her majesty has remained a constant in our lives throughout this period. Unwavering in her duty and commitment to our country and the Commonwealth.
As I watched Pathe News footage of the 1954 Royal Tour the immense excitement and joy of people throughout the great towns of Lancashire is clear. Coming out of the post-war years of austerity these films reflect a sense of optimism for the future, a determination that a better future was around the corner after the dark days of World War 2.
The clear civic pride that was reflected from Barrow to St Helens, Manchester to Rochdale jumps through the screen all these years later and I truly hope we all share these same feelings today. In my view, politics works best when rooted in a sense of place, a shared sense of pride in the community where you live.
Since being elected as MP for Bury North I have delivered £20 million in funding to regenerate Bury town centre, £1 million to allow the community purchase of Gigg Lane and ensured Bury College gained Institute of Technology status and the direct government investment in education and skills training that flows from this. The Government has further committed to invest millions of pounds in our local transport infrastructure together with other projects, the sole objective being to improve the lives of all residents in Bury, Ramsbottom, Tottington and all the villages I represent.
The Platinum Jubilee Celebrations next week will transport us back to that rainy day in October 1954, a shared joy and celebration of a wonderful life and a great pride in our country, town and local community.
God save the Queen.
