Tomorrow will mark the 60th anniversary of The Queen and Prince Philip visiting the County Ground at New Road.
The Royal couple enjoyed a two day official visit to the county of Worcestershire, beginning on Tuesday April 23, 1957 and including a visit to Worcestershire CCC's headquarters on the second day.
The trip is described in detail on page 265 of 'Pears 150' by Andrew Thomas.
Andrew writes: "Along the route, locals had decorated houses, shops, and streets then stood in the sunshine to cheer and wave as the royal couple drove by.
"From Hagley Railway Station, they drove to Halesowen (Frank Somers Ltd), Oldbury, Dudley (lunch), Stourbridge, Kidderminster, then took the Royal Train to Worcester Shrub Hill by 8.45pm.
"The Royal couple were driven down Lowesmoor, St Nicholas Street, The Cross and High Street Worcester to the floodlit Guildhall, for dinner with 500 guests. They were given a Regimental broach and two large boxes of locally made gloves.
"They spent the night on the Royal Train near Leigh Court, then arrived at 10am at Henwick Station, and drove down through the new, un-named gates onto WCCC’s ground at New Road.
"While the Band of the Royal Artillery played, The Queen inspected a guard of honour of The Queen’s own Worcestershire Hussars (Warwick & Worcs Yeomanry) and ranks of Old Comrades.
"Then, The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh stood in the back of a maroon open Land Rover which slowly circled the cricket ground outfield as 4,500 school children and 2,600 more from youth organizations waved their handkerchiefs and cheered.
"They changed back to their official car for the drive to Malvern (visiting the Royal Radar Establishment and Malvern College) before going over the County border into Herefordshire at British Camp.
"On Wednesday night (April 24), the head and tail of comet, Arend-Roland, could clearly be seen in the county’s northern sky."
A brief, silent B&W video of this event can be seen, free, online. Just Google, British Pathe News, Queen visits Worcester Cricket Ground 1957.
*Copies of 'Pears 150' are again on sale this summer in the Worcestershire Supporters' Association Shop at the back of the Basil D'Oliveira Stand on match days priced £28.
