A Royal Fly-By
ELDRIDGEVILLE, Ontario — A very convincing rumour took hold last Wednesday, setting in motion a flurry of activity unseen in our fair town since the parade to celebrate VE Day ended when the mayor, in a moment of great ceremony and failing eyesight, presented the ‘Miss Eldridgeville’ banner to the wrong Chicory twin—sparking what many still refer to as World War Three.
The rumour began circulating following the return of Mr. Wisely who had been visiting his sister in the city for several days prior. On the train ride home he overheard a group of women discussing the upcoming visit of Princess Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip. Upon his arrival at Eldridgeville Station, Wisely witnessed an unusual site—a group of businessmen and two men in kilts—leading him to believe plans were underway to accommodate the royals. He immediately contacted acting mayor John Dooley to inquire how the town intended to welcome the couple. (Dooley having been installed as acting mayor following the sudden disappearance of the petty cash fund and resignation of Mayor Culpepper). Dooley assembled a “Royal Welcome Committee” led by Deputy Police Chief Newberry who was left in charge while Police Chief Bacon was spending a week at his cottage with strict ‘do not disturb’ instructions.
The committee flew into action, somehow determining the royal couple would likely be in town on Sunday October 14, giving them only a few days to prepare. Residents were required to remove their vehicles from Main Street with all obliging except Old Man Ledbetter who’s 1934 Packard 8 Coupe Roadster had been parked on Main Street since he stopped driving on his ninety-third birthday almost two years earlier.
Storefronts and sidewalks were scrubbed and the street was decked out using bunting unearthed from Mrs. Kinderman’s attic—stored there since the town celebrated the royal visit of ’39 when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth toured Canada, though they did not actually make an appearance in Eldridgeville.
The Ladies Auxiliary prepared a lavish buffet, in anticipation that the royal couple would be hungry and stopping for lunch. Mr. Colleridge, of the Town Bakery, provided a cake meant to resemble The Queen Mary and decorated in the colours of the Union Jack. He was asked several times to explain the significance of a Titanic shaped cake.
Children were drilled in the proper curtsying and bowing technique—and sternly warned to behave, or else! Everyone in town took a bath on Saturday night, resulting in decreased water pressure.
On Sunday morning, Eldridgeville was a site to behold. Residents, with folding lawn chairs, began lining the parade route following church services. At precisely 12:42 in the afternoon a black motorcar whizzed down Main Street at a breathtaking 35 miles per hour. Townsfolk, waving flags and cheering, gasped at the site. Mrs. Kinderman almost fainted and declared she had seen a white gloved hand waving at the crowd. Mr. Kinderman however, was quite certain it was the driver adjusting his mirror. Mrs. Colleridge swooned as she described the handsome Prince Philip to the unfortunate women in the back who must have had an obstructed view as they could not say they saw any passengers in the vehicle.
The car did not stop. It did not even slow down.
But the buffet and cake was enjoyed by all and Acting Mayor Dooley declared the event a success, except for the part where the car didn’t stop.
The bunting was removed and packed away once more as Eldridgeville stands ready for the next royal blur (tour).
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