TheHallowian-2021Vol2 - Flipbook - Page 10
The Day I (Almost) Met the Queen
Elaine Smyth (Dunlea), Class of 1960
In 1951, at the age of 8, I joined my sisters Leonie and Deidre at All Hallows’,
starting in Grade 4 down the slope at the junior school...I was the youngest
boarder until about Scholarship year.
My special memory is the 1954 ‘drive past’ visit by the Queen and Prince Phillip
along Kemp Place towards the Story Bridge.
I was selected to approach the car and present a stuffed koala and kangaroo to
the Royal couple in the back seat. However, their driver only slowed down, and all
I could do was toss the toys into the open window and try to curtsy without being
run over. But I did get to wear a clean uniform mid-week!
Photo: Leonie, my sister, aged 15 and me, on the right, aged 10. 1953
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The Hallowian | 2021