Queen Elizabeth II was Britain’s longest-serving monarch and much loved throughout her Kingdom. Now, a newly launched book aims to chronicle the late Monarch’s links to one particular corner of her realm – the town of Walsall in the West Midlands.
Her experience of the Black Country seems to have contrasted somewhat with the initial impressions the region had on the young Princess Victoria when she visited the Midlands for the first time. Victoria, albeit only a 13-year-old girl, infamously described the region at the time as “desolate” and “black”.
Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Victoria were the two longest-serving monarchs in British history but Elizabeth’s experience of this often-underrated part of the West Midlands seems to have differed dramatically to that of her great-great-grandmother.
Retelling local people’s stories
Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II, in fact, made no less than four visits to the borough of Walsall during her amazing 70 years on the throne and these are now lovingly retold in Walsall Celebrates Queen Elizabeth II: Stories of The Queen’s visits and Jubilee parties.
Walsall is arguably better known for its old leather industry and less for any Royal connections and the new publication, which outlines some of these links, was created by Walsall Creative Factory, which develops arts and heritage projects with communities. The team researched, interviewed, photographed and captured in print the stories of local people’s experience.
The book draws together a selection of touching stories about local, down-to-earth Walsall folk, including the late Olive Finch, who wrote the book’s epilogue. The stories of the Queen and Olive, now both sadly deceased, provide a kind of chronological thread, or unofficial narrative, for the book.
A fitting tribute
Earlier this week, some of Olive’s relatives attended the launch of the local history book which will be distributed to local libraries, schools and care homes. Olive also got a special mention in one of the speeches at the launch. Those present included her grand-daughter Jessica Grace Coleman who said: “It was a delightful occasion, and the book is a fitting tribute to the Queen and also, in a way, to my dear late nan.”
The launch, at the town’s Council House, was hosted by the Mayor of Walsall, Councillor Anthony Harris and other guests included the Deputy Lieutenant David Frost CBE DL and many who took part in the project.
Walsall Council commissioned the book in 2022, when the late Queen celebrated her Platinum Jubilee. Over a period of two years, more than 100 participants were interviewed and their tales include stories and memories of the Coronation in 1953, street parties and Jubilee celebrations, and personal reminiscences of official visits to Walsall by the Queen.
Celebrating the link
From February, a copy will be displayed in Walsall Archives and all its seven libraries, including Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Darlaston, Streetly, Willenhall and the Lichfield Street Hub in Walsall town centre. The New Art Gallery Walsall will also have a copy for visitors to view. Every school in the borough will be given a copy too.
Debra Slade, Director of Walsall Creative Factory said: “This has been a lovely project to work on. This book celebrates the late Queen’s links to Walsall and tells the story of her visits to the borough over the years using historic photographs, press and printed materials as well as the memories of local people. It also gives an insight into how Walsall changed during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.”
Further reaction came from the Mayor of Walsall, Councillor Anthony Harris who said: “This book has gathered together and recorded the memories of people from across the borough. It serves as a celebration of her life and a record of Walsall’s fond memories of celebrating her reign during her lifetime.
He continued: “It focuses on her relationship with Walsall, the affection felt by Walsall people for her, and their memories of how Walsall celebrated royal milestones such as the Queen’s Silver, Gold, Diamond and Platinum Jubilees.”
Shared memories and affection
In June 2022, about three months before the Queen’s untimely death, Olive was asked to pen something about her own life for the book.
Olive was born in Walsall a few months before Elizabeth Windsor was born in London. She lived in the town all her life. It was felt that her story, her memories of the Land Army and the creation of the NHS and her memories of what has changed in Walsall over the decades was a fitting way to bring the book to a conclusion.
The book itself recalls how the Queen came to the throne at a time when the nation was rebuilding itself after the privations of the Second World War, was its figurehead as it negotiated the transition from Empire to Commonwealth “and was – for many people – a symbol of stability linking past, present, and future.”
The authors note: “In this book, we have focussed on her relationship with Walsall, the affection felt by Walsall people for her, and their memories of how Walsall celebrated royal milestones such as the Jubilees. Britain changed hugely over the seventy years of the Queen’s reign. The high hopes for the new Elizabethan era proved to be more elusive than the dignitaries, officials, and journalists in 1953 had anticipated.
“Amid recession and austerity, the Queen remained a constant. But how did Walsall change? Specifically, how did life for ordinary people in Walsall change over the course of her lifetime?”
The tale of two matriarchs
Olive herself was born on 1 November 1925, in Villiers Street by Palfrey Park, in Walsall, which made her a few months older than the Queen. When she was a child, the family lived in Tame Street East and her dad worked as a tailor in Stammers, a shop by St Matthew’s church, while her mother was a seamstress.
She writes, “I lived in that house in Tame Street East until I got married with my father and mother, and two brothers and one sister”. Olive says that her beloved daughter Sue, who sadly recently lost her brave fight against cancer, used to tell her that she (Olive) was “the matriarch of our family, just like the Queen was of hers.”
Olive, married for many years to her late husband Albert, was full of fond memories of the Queen and recalled: “I remember the Queen visiting Crabtree’s. I was working there part-time, packing in the warehouse. There were crowds waiting outside to see her, and we all had to stand when she came round. She was lovely.”
Two much-missed ladies
Continuing her reminiscences, Olive writes: “Then for our 50th, 60th, and 70th wedding anniversary we got cards from the Palace to congratulate us.
“I have been lucky enough to have had the freedom to live my life how I’ve wanted, to marry who I wanted and to be my own person”, Olive goes on. “When anything controversial has occurred with the Queen’s family – for example in her sister, Princess Margaret’s life, or involving her own children, it becomes worldwide knowledge. “I have been fortunate not to have to deal with anything like that – not that anything has ever occurred which would have been newsworthy!”
Olive’s epilogue concludes: “Despite the difference in wealth and status between myself and the Queen, I think I’ve been the lucky one. She is a wonderful lady.”
The same might be said for both of these much-missed ladies: the Queen and Olive.
