Waiting patiently to meet the Royals
This wonderful picture captures the excitement and anticipation of workers at the former Cooke's Mill as they await a Royal visit to Spen.
It was sent to us by former Spen resident Muriel Bentley (nee Denney) who now lives in Fleetwood, Lancashire.
She still keeps in touch with what is happening in the valley by reading copies of the Spenborough Guardian which are sent to her by her sister, Phyllis Johnson.
Muriel said the picture was taken on July 26, 1949. She remembers the date well because not only was it her 17th birthday, but it was also the date that Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh were visiting the Spen Valley.
"After leaving school I went to work at the Co-op Boot Company," she recalled.
"But then I got a job at Cooke's Mill as a burler/mender and stayed there until I got married."
On the day of the royal visit, bosses at Cooke's mill let the workers leave their machines to come out and line the streets so they could greet the couple.
"It was quite an occasion," said Muriel.
"There were people lining the streets ready to wave and cheer.
"They kept us waiting because they had to stop for lots of photographs, but it was well worth the wait. The Princess looked lovely, so glamorous."
Among those pictured are Sylvia Cooper, Dorothy Jackson, Gwen Jackson, Doreen Carter, Joyce Ledgard, James France, Jean Wilson, Muriel Denney, Kathleen Etherington, Joyce Barber and Maureen Kelly.
Muriel's husband, Robert, has also appeared in a recent Looking Back in a feature on Birkenshaw Rovers.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Cleckheaton
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
