“ON THE front it has a picture of the Queen in 1952 and 1922, and on the back is Prince Charles and Princess Anne with the Queen, and Buckingham Palace with the state coach and soldiers.”
Judith Watkinson describes the top she is wearing to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee next month.
“My son has a printing business and I gave him a red top and told him what I wanted on the front and he could do anything he wanted on the back,” she said. “It has Union Jack sleeves and corgis who are wearing crowns. I love it - it is wonderful, absolutely wonderful.”
The passionate Royalist - who has a Union Jack-adorned mobility scooter with a cut-out corgi on the front - will be wearing the top at a special party she has organised, with help from others, at the Yeadon flats where she lives.
The occasion will include a ‘pin the tail on the corgi’ competition, a knobbly knees competition, a Royal quiz and a free raffle in which everyone gets a prize.
"We have two pass the parcels as there are 32 of us. We are all really looking forward to it, it will be a day to remember," she says.
“A singer, Juliana, is coming, and when she performs we will raise a toast to the Queen with prosecco while singing the National Anthem.”
Over the years, Judith has collected hundreds of Royal-themed items ranging from teapots to teddy bears, crockery, cushions, tablecloths and thimbles.
Her former home, the appropriately-named Windsor House near Bolton Junction, had a sentry box in the garden, with a 6ft-tall uniformed mannequin guard and two concrete corgis.
Judith had to give up many items from her collection when downsizing to her current flat, but still retains many pieces of memorabilia including two life-size cardboard cut-outs of the Queen.
She owns commemorative beakers from the coronations of all bar one of the monarchs from Edward 7 in 1901, through to Queen Elizabeth ll in 1952.
“My window blinds are red, white and blue," she says.
Judith began collecting 30 years ago when out on a shopping trip with her late husband Tony to buy a coffee table. “We did not get the table but while in the shop I spotted a lovely big painting of the Queen and bought it,” she said. “I still have it on my wall.”
She is excited about the forthcoming celebration. “It will be a great day. The Queen has been steadfast all this time, through thick and thin. To be on the throne for so long is a real achievement."
She adds: "I don’t think there will be another Platinum Jubilee again.”
Judith would like to thank staff at Morrisons in Yeadon for being so helpful with the party. “Linda, the store’s Community Champion, has bent over backwards to help us, she really has been amazing."
Another member of staff is helping with ice buckets to keep their drinks cool on the day. "They are all so nice," adds Judith.
Judith's mobility scooter is an eye-catching sight on the high street. “One day I went along to my local Thursday Club and some of the others asked for the keys to my scooter. They took it away briefly and fixed on a number plate saying ‘Her Majesty' - it was a lovely surprise."
In 2004 Judith was fortunate enough to attend the Queen's annual Buckingham Palace garden party. “That was a day to remember, it was fantastic,” she said. "I enjoyed every minute."
Planning for the Platinum Jubilee party started last October. "It might have seemed early to start putting it together, but time goes quickly and it's here before you know it," she says.
Queen Elizabeth is an asset to the UK, says Judith. "She is a great ambassador for our country and people travel from across the world to see her. We are very, very lucky to have her."
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