𝗗𝗢𝗧 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗧𝗧 (𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝟭𝟵𝟯𝟳)

We had the absolute pleasure of attending a garden part at Buckingham Palace.

My husband Bill Proffitt (aka Wilfred) and I were involved with The British Crown Green Bowling Association.

Bill had bowled most of his adult life and was Acting Secretary of Staffordshire, a referee for The Crown Green Bowling and also the National Coach.

We married in 1976 (he was my second husband) and he’d been bowling since he was 21. I started doing administration for some of the clubs, raffles at big competitions etc. We covered Stafford, Birmingham, Warwick, Worcester, Yorkshire and Lancashire.

In July 1998 we received an invitation to a garden party at Buckingham Palace for our work with The British Crown Green Association. (Photo of invitation below)

My daughter Greta Sargeant went shopping with me in Walsall to help me choose an outfit.

I wore a navy blue dress with a little jacket, navy accessories and a big navy blue hat. Bill wore a grey suit, white shirt with a grey and blue tie. We travelled to London by train. I remember how excited I was.

We had to queue for an awful long time at the gates but I remember the temporary public toilets were very exquisite. When I went in the young lady offered me a clean white towel and a tablet of soap. She was dressed in a long black skirt, white apron and white shirt. She made me feel like royalty!

Once we were inside there were several large marques on an enormous lawn. When the Queen appeared with Prince Philip she came out of the palace onto the steps. The crowds divided and made a large channel for them to walk down.

The few people officially meeting the queen we’re ushered out by stewards into the middle of the walkway and she shook hands with each of them and chatted to them as we stood close by looking on.

The Queen Mother and ladies in waiting were in one of the marques and the queen and Prince Phillip joined them inside for their afternoon tea - we managed to look inside and get a peek of the Queen Mother.

I remember there were lots of guards all around. We went into the large marque to get a plate of sandwiches and a cup of tea and then we sat by a lake amongst the trees where there were chairs laid out, it was very nice. The person who was sat next to us and chatting to us about how enjoyable the afternoon had been was The President from Ireland, he was a lovely man.

I remember my friends and work colleagues being really excited for me in the build up to the occasion and recall going back to work afterwards to tell them all about the event and sharing my precious memories was great fun.

I worked at a company in Walsall called R Taylor & Son who made surgical appliances, shoes, leg irons etc for the disabled. I was there for 32 years with several roles over the years but ended up in the accounts department doing book keeping for them prior to retirement.

I feel really happy to be sharing this story and remembering the whole experience all over again and am surprised by the details that have come back to me, it’s been a pleasure talking about it and I hope someone out there takes pleasure in reading my memory.

(Photos below of Dot who shared this memory and the invitation they received)