THEN & NOW MILLINGTON WALK

Welcome to Then and Now, where each week we compare images of Manchester streets, landmarks and buildings from bygone days with how they look today

OUR main image this week shows residents of Millington Walk celebrating the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in the summer of 1977.

Parties large and small were the order of the day on June 7 as Manchester and the nation celebrated 25 years of the Queen’s reign.

The Queen and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, visited no less than 36 countries during the year and made extensive trips throughout the UK.

Church services across the country commemorated the anniversary date on February 6, but Jubilee Days were held in June to coincide with the

Queen’s official birthday.

The Queen came to Manchester on June 20 and created one of the most memorable scenes of the whole year when she was photographed waving to joyful crowds from a window in Manchester town hall.

The picture was called ‘Hello Manchester.’ As soon as the Queen waved, the people cheered back.

In all, more than a million spectators turned out to greet the royal couple during the Lancashire leg of their Silver Jubilee tour.

Long-running Granada TV soap Coronation Street included a Jubilee parade in its 1977 storyline. It saw Rovers Return landlady Annie Walker (Doris Speed) dressed as Elizabeth I and Ken Barlow (William Roache) kitted out as Sir Edmund Hillary.

Ena Sharples (Violet Carson) was Queen Victoria and Bet Lynch (Julie Goodyear) was Britannia. Tracy Langton, now played by Kate Ford, even won the Silver Jubilee Bonny Baby contest!

Many more images from Then and Now are featured in The Changing Face of Manchester published to mark the 150th anniversary of the M.E.N. It’s on sale at £14.99 including postage and packing. Order your copy online at inostalgia.co.uk or ring the order hotline on 01928 503777.