The day the Queen came to Arran
The royal visit, Saturday August 9, 1997
It was 20 years ago this week when Arran had a day to remember as the Queen came to visit. For the first time, the Banner had four pages of colour in a specially produced edition. Here is a 20 years ago special as we reprint some of the historic photos and words written then.
It was a carnival day in every sense. Many people had been looking forward to the Queen’s visit and once the day arrived, virtually everybody was caught up in the excitement of it. For days and weeks and even years to come people will be speaking of the royal visit. Everybody will have their own story to tell, of what their impression of the Queen was, of what she said to them, of all of the incidents in which they were involved. And these stories will continue, just as all who were involved in the last visit still vividly remember.
The Queen arrived at Brodick Pier on the Royal Yacht Britannia, where after disembarking the linkspan, she walked around the lines of children and the waiting crowds.
After inspecting a plaque to mark her landing on Arran, she was whisked away to the newly opened Ormidale Park. After visiting the Brodick Highland Games, she arrived at Brodick Castle where she was welcomed by school pupils and the Arran High School choir.
After a fine lunch at the castle, the Queen moved on to the new visitor centre at the distillery, where she was taken on a tour by the distiller, Gordon Mitchell.
After this, the Queen went for another walk, meeting people and delighting the large crowd that had gathered at Lochranza Pier where she walked across the Claonaig ferry to get to the Royal barge to speed out to Britannia.
For the people of Arran it was truly a day to remember and hopefully the Queen will remember it with happiness too.