The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Images of Queen’ s 1977 visit revealed
These fascinating pictures capture The Queen’s Silver Jubilee visit to Perth in 1977. The evocative images have been developed from negatives that have lain in DC Thomson’s East Kingsway archives for 45 years.
Our photographers were sent to cover the Silver Jubilee visit in May 1977, but only a handful of shots were used in the following day’s paper.
The rest were boxed up and filed away before being stumbled upon years later.
The Queen and Prince Philip were a fixture at many of Tayside and Fife’s most historic events for almost seven decades, occasions that will live long in the memory.
Back in May 1977 the royal couple captured the hearts of the people of Perth when they were welcomed by thousands of people in the High Street.
The Queen and Prince Philip were late for church because they spent so much time talking to the people who lined the route sixdeep before a visit to St John’s Kirk.
The Queen walked down one side of the pavement and her husband the other as they chatted to the delighted masses for 25 minutes during the walkabout.
At the forefront of the cheering crowds were flag-waving children, with a guard of honour formed by Perth Society of High Constables.
The bells of St John’s Kirk also rang out and the Carillion came to life through the expertise of Henry Neil, who was the head of music at Perth Academy.
The royal couple toured the ancient kirk, where 1,000 people were assembled, before they signed the visitors’ book and headed back outside to more cheering.
As the royal car moved off, the air was again filled with the sound of the Carillion proclaiming: “Will Ye No Come Back Again?”
The Queen and Prince Philip’s next stop was Bell’s Sports Centre.
A colourful scene greeted them with Brownies, Guides, Sea Cadets and other uniformed groups adding to the spectacle of flag-waving and cheering.
Pipe bands from Strathallan and Glenalmond schools helped to welcome the royal couple.
Provost Norman Renfrew greeted them at the door and introduced them to the town councillors on what was their first visit to the sports centre.
The Queen was hugely impressed by dozens of performers of all ages.
They then held a demonstration of some of the sports and activities that were being practised in the centre, including table tennis and weightlifting.
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh planted trees on the lawn to hearty cheers before leaving to have lunch at Perth Technical College.
The food, which had been prepared by students, went down well with the royal visitors.
Then it was back to the car to head down the old A92 to Dundee where they would spend the afternoon and evening on the third day of their Scottish tour.
People from Perthshire turned out in force to wave them off.
They stood on grass verges in every village and burgh along the route to cheer them on, following what remains an unforgettable visit 45 years ago.
For generations Scots have been flocking to see the Queen when she visits and the reception demonstrated back in 1977 proved the affection is by no means one way.
She returned to Perth in 2012 to hand over the keys to the city, a status it was granted as part of her diamond jubilee celebrations.
Please let us know your own memories of these special occasions.