In 1971, I attended a meeting at the high school in Shelburne. Two representatives from the Department of Tourism were there to help organizations plan and promote special events. I was hoping to get interest in forming a group to celebrate an important anniversary of the arrival of the Loyalists, as 1983 would mark 200 years.
When they finally got to me, and I explained what I was thinking, they laughed and said, “You do realize that is twelve years from now?!”
I replied that I had read somewhere that it takes a minimum of 10 years to plan a royal visit.
I had their attention now!
With their assistance, I issued the invitation for a visit to Shelburne in 1983.
I was at work one winter day, and received a phone call that the Prince and Princess of Wales were coming!
We had formed an organization called The Shelburne Bicentennial Committee.
Our members worked together, and we celebrated our bicentennial with events that lasted an entire year. The royal visit took place on June 16.
It was my honour to walk the Prince of Wales through the area of the Loyalist descendants. Having been through many meetings with protocol officials, I knew that I shouldn’t introduce him to anyone (that’s the Premier’s job).
I said, “I’d love for you to meet my mother and dad.”
He replied, “Go for it, you will never get the chance again. So I walked him over to my parents, and made the introduction.”
He kept looking over his shoulder to see that the Princess was all right. Knowing how many security guards were present, I said, “You don’t need to worry about her safety here.”
He replied, “It only takes one you know!”
My youngest son, Johnadam, presented the Princess with a Loyalist doll made by the local historical society.
She said that Johnadam was a delightful child.
“You might not think that if you spent a lot of time with him!” I said.
She knew that I was joking, and put her head back and laughed.
My oldest son, Blair, was holding a Jacob’s ladder when the Prince passed by, and the Prince said that he had one of those when he was a child.
It was a wonderful day—so many happy memories! And 41 years later, I can say that I had the privilege of walking with the King.
