Mary Powell, organiser of the Golden Jubilee exhibition at the Market House, is delighted at the response it has received.
More than forty people have contributed to the exhibition, which showcases a variety of memorabilia and artifacts relating to the Royal Family. The display covers not only the accession and coronation of the Queen in 1952 and 1953, but her visit to Ross in 1957 and her Silver Jubilee in 1977.
Items of particular interest include a coronation stool, known to have been sat upon in Westminster during the ceremony in 1953. This stool was passed on to its present owner from their aunt, and little is actually known about it; who sat on it, and even how it got from Westminster. Mary remarked: "It is amusing to think of nobility in their robes smuggling these stools out with them".
Royal memorabilia is on show inside a glass cabinet. This contains cardboard pop-ups and toys in mint condition, a variety of collectable chinaware, commemorative coins and to bring the display up to date, items produced for the 2002 Golden Jubilee, including the Ross Jubilee mug are on show.
A large number of newspapers, Jubilee event programmes and magazines are also featured in the exhibition. One contributor has even submitted a 1953 copy of The Radio Times, published the week of the coronation and containing a complete rundown of the programmes shown on coronation day.
Mary aims to portray not only an image of what the Royals were doing at the time, but also aspects of everyday life and how locals celebrated. Pictures of lavish street parties adorn one board.
The exhibition is ongoing until March, and it is hoped during this time a vast amount of information about these events, plus names of people shown will be gathered. If you were involved in these celebrations, or know someone who was, then Mary would be very interested in hearing from you.
Interestingly, the Market House opened to the public on April 14th, 1997, 10 days before the 40th anniversary of the Queen's visit to Ross.
Mary will shortly be organising a quiz, to be published in The Ross Gazette. Two copies will be produced, for adults and children, and there will be 2002 Jubilee mugs available for the winners.
Entrance to the exhibition, located on the top floor of the Market House, is free and it is open Monday to Saturday between 10.30am and 4pm. Anyone wishing to contribute in any way should contact Mary on 01432 260675.