New local history book by Walsall Council honours late Queen Elizabeth II

The event was hosted by the Mayor of Walsall, Councillor Anthony Harris. Guests included the Deputy Lieutenant David Frost CBE DL and participants who took part in the local history book project.

The book is called ‘Walsall Celebrates Queen Elizabeth II, Stories of The Queen’s visits and Jubilee parties’. Using historic photographs, press and printed material as well as the memories of local people, it celebrates the late Queen’s links to Walsall and tells the story of her visits to the borough over the years. It also gives an insight into how Walsall changed during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.

In the book, the actor Jeffrey Holland, born in Walsall and well known for his role in television ‘Hi-de-Hi!’, shares his memory of the Thorpe Road street party on Coronation day on Tuesday 2 June 1953. 

He said, “The photo of the whole of the street’s kids is a really good record of who lived there then. I am the little boy about two rows back on the left of the picture staring straight at the camera with glasses and a striped paper hat. It seems I was never camera-shy even at the age of 6!”

Another person to share their memories of the Coronation was Sandra Edwards. Sandra was nearly nine years old and living in Ashley Road in the Dudley Fields Estate in Bloxwich, one of the first housing estates that went up after the war. 

“It was a great day. I think there was very much a sense of this special day being a chance for the community to have a celebration after long years of war and rationing and shortage.

The book also contains memories of the Queen’s visits in 1962, 1977, 1994 and 2000.

Queen Elizabeth II was the first reigning monarch to officially visit Walsall when she visited the town on 24 May 1962. She visited local firm J.A. Crabtree & Co Ltd and Doreen Craddock shares her memory in the book. “The best part, for me, was that they showed a film of the Queen’s visit a few weeks later at the Savoy cinema at the top of Park Street. It was a special Crabtree’s night. All my family came along to watch, and there I was, projected onto the big screen, curtsying to the Queen!”

On the Queen’s visit to Walsall on 27 July 1977, large crowds, waiting to see her as she passed through the town centre, were kept waiting when one of the royal cars broke down just outside the Town Hall. The car had to be pushed back off the road to await repairs by local Rolls Royce engineers.

Her last visit took place on 5 May 2000, when she visited Walsall to officially open the New Art Gallery Walsall. Christine Wilkinson shares her memory in the book. 

“On the day of The Queen’s visit I remember feeling really excited, a little bit nervous but honoured that Her Majesty The Queen was visiting Walsall to officially open the New Art Gallery. I was situated on the mezzanine level, looking down the gallery’s grand staircase to the foyer/reception area, which was packed full of council dignitaries, VIPs and invited guests. I managed to catch a glimpse of The Queen, who was surrounded by guests in the foyer, and thinking how lovely she looked. I was totally taken aback at the time how emotional I felt seeing The Queen, it felt a bit surreal that she was actually in our art gallery!”

The book also contains a section about some of the local Walsall businesses who were granted Royal Warrants during her reign. A Royal Warrant is a mark of recognition for people or companies who regularly supply goods or services to the royal household. It allows them to display the Royal Arms on their goods and marketing materials and is a sign of excellence, service, quality and craftsmanship

Royal Warrant holders to the Queen included Launer, probably Walsall’s best-known Royal Warrant holder to the late Queen. The company, which still has a workshop in Holtshill Lane, was awarded a warrant in 1968 and held it for over 50 years, supplying the Queen with her famous handbags and other small leather items until she died in 2022.

Other local Royal Warrant holders included J.A. Crabtree & Co Ltd, Loddon Equestrian Ltd, Abbey England, Jabez Cliff, Matthew Harvey & Co Ltd of Bath Street, Vale Brothers Ltd (under the brand name Equerry) and Elkington & Co Ltd.

From February 2025, a copy will be displayed in the Borough Archives and all seven libraries in the borough including Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Darlaston, Streetly, Willenhall and the Lichfield Street Hub in Walsall town centre. The New Art Gallery will also have a copy for visitors to view.

Every school in the borough will be given a copy too.

Ends

Photographs from the book are available on request from communications@walsall.gov.uk

A selection of photographs is included with this press release including the following:

• The front cover of book.
• Pictured at the book launch from left to right: Emma Bennett, Chief Executive of Walsall Council, the Mayor of Walsall, Councillor Anthony Harris, and Deputy Lieutenant David Frost CBE DL.
• Contributor Sandra Edwards pictured at the book launch.
• Contributor Christine Wilkinson at the book launch.
• An archive photograph of Jeffrey Holland, which is included in the book, plus a publicist photograph.