Waiting And Waiting. Where Was She?

A Memory of Rugeley.

There was a tremendous interest when this reservoir was officially opened by the Queen Mother.
The local papers carried details of the scheduled times and events connected with this event. Not least of all, the Queen's route was specified. Needless to say crowds gathered to get a glimpse of her, particularly on both footpaths on this bridge and in the wide-open spaces before it.

A loudspeaker van had been set up to describe the proceedings for the benefit of the assembled throng. Announcements were made from time to time.

Then nothing. We waited and waited. Nothing whatsoever. No cavalcade of royal conveying vehicles and police escorts. Nothing.

Eventually the speaker crackled into life. 'Her Majesty has returned to her train at Rugeley Trent Valley station by a different route.' That sounded like what the three kings did at the first Christmas having been warned by God in a dream. We didn't feel like wise men as we too sauntered away having stood for literally hours under a dull sky on a cold day.