Thoughtful gifts from Queen are still remembered
TWO Carmarthenshire women have revealed that their mothers received handwritten letters from Queen Elizabeth II more than 60 years ago, along with parcels of food.
Phyllis Musselwhite, now of Pembrey but who has roots in Carmarthen and Abergwili, has the letter that was written to her mother from the Queen in 1953.
Phyllis’ mother, Betws Mary Elias, from Abergwili, worked as a cook at the former infirmary in Priory Street, Carmarthen, from the age of 11 before running a drapers shop in Carmarthen with her husband William Davies.
Phyllis, aged 84, said her family were one of many across the UK to receive a letter and a box of food from the young Queen in the days following her coronation 64 years ago.
To have a plentiful food parcel in the early 1950s would have been a treat, let alone one from the Queen. It was the decade that saw the end of food rationing following World War Two.
Phyllis said: “In the run-up to the Queen’s coronation, food had been delivered to London as part of the big celebration. Afterwards she decided to re-distribute the food to families in the UK as so much had been sent to her. At the time, they must have picked names to have the food.
“We had tinned salmon, which was not something you could get really back then, and lots of other sorts of foods, too, all tinned.
“It was quite exciting to have a package with the letter. In it, the Queen said she hoped we would accept the parcel as there had been so much food delivered to London before the coronation.
Receiving a handwritten letter from royalty must have been a tremendous feeling for a local woman from Carmarthenshire, but it turns out that such generosity had also been displayed by her Majesty some years prior to her coronation.
Esme Phillips, from Llangunnor in Carmarthen, said her late mother Rachel Lewis, from Llanddarog, received a letter and a food parcel from the Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, back in 1947.
The letter from the young Princess reads:
‘Many kind friends overseas sent me gifts of food at the time of my wedding.
I want to distribute it as best I can and to share my good fortune with others. I therefore ask you to accept this parcel with my very best wishes. Elizabeth.’ “The letter is now framed and sits nicely in my lounge,” said Esme. “One day it will go to the museum in Carmarthen, according to my wishes, as my husband and I have not been blessed with a family.
“My mother did considerable work for the Red Cross so I wonder if there is a connection, and whether this was the reason for her receiving the letter and the food parcel.
“I was quite young at the time, but I do remember this parcel arriving, and the postman did not have to travel far as we used to live opposite the Post Office.”
More than 60 years may have passed since the two women received their special gifts in the post, but, generations later, the gesture continues to leave its mark.