A Royal Memory

Brenda Crawford | Sep 14, 2022

When I worked at Queen’s University I became friends with Doris McKnight who was working in Cataloguing Department at the old Douglas Library. Her husband was a retired Air Force pilot from her Majesty’s service. Doris came in to work one morning all astir with her news of an invitation to Buckingham Palace for tea honouring her husband’s squadron.

She came to my desk and showed me the invitation and the accompanying sheet of paper with her list of suitable wardrobe. She had been looking everywhere in Kingston for her dress, gloves, shoes with no toes showing, and her hat. She asked for my help.

In a few minutes I was on the phone to Elda, my friend and owner of Glynelda’s in Verona and explained to her what was needed. The next day I took Doris to Verona and got her a very suitable dress, below the knees, and long sleeves. Elda told us to go to this hat shop on Brock Street, take the dress and have the seamstress and the owner serve us. We arrived and a hat and matching pair of gloves were immediately shown to us. Doris was happy. We then went to S&R and got the shoes. I forgot she was also told to bring an umbrella, just in case. She practiced her curtsy all that weekend.

Off the McKnights went for the tea and it was perfect. Sunshine and as Doris said, she curtsied OK and did not fall on her face and was very surprised at the shoes she purchased for a few dollars at the old S&R. This happened in the summer of 1975.

Brenda Crawford