Queen presents County Show trophies – then opens new Council offices

Royal Visit – 12 August 1978

The 93^rd County Show had the unique distinction of being graced by a visit by the Queen, who watched the grand parade of champions with her youngest son, Prince Edward, and presented three of the trophies.

Two out of three people living in Orkney were estimated to have been in Kirkwall that day for what became known as the ‘Royal Show’.

The Queen’s visit began with the Royal Yacht Britannia – en route from the Western Isles to Aberdeen – dropping anchor in Scapa Bay. Also at anchor were the Northern Lighthouse Board vessel Pole Star, the Royal Navy frigate HMS Arethusa and two tugs, all of the vessels ‘dressed’ specially for the occasion.

Many people were there to watch the Royal arrival at a ‘spick and span’ Scapa Pier and departure for the Bignold Park, the Queen and Prince Edward travelling in a pale blue Rolls Royce. The streets of Kirkwall were also packed with spectators throughout the day.

The Orcadian reported: “Seated in the Royal Box in the Bignold Park with the President of the Orkney Agricultural Society, Mr Kenneth Eunson and Mrs Eunson beside her, she watched with evident interest the parade of prize winners, scrutinising each one in turn and asking probing questions. It was truly a magnificent display of Orkney’s farming riches.”

On her arrival at the park, the National Anthem was performed by the band of the Salvation Army before the Queen was presented with a bouquet before being taken on a short drive around the arena in an open-top Land-Rover.

After the parade and presentation of prizes for the top awards in the beef cattle, dairy cattle and horse sections, the Queen – wearing a salmon-coloured coat and hat to match - went for a short walk-about and was shown the display at the SWRI tent. Attendance at the County Show broke all previous records, with 10,380 people through the gates.

The next engagement for the Royal visitor was to open Orkney Islands Council’s new offices in School Place.

The steps to the offices were lined by a guard of Queen’s Badge holders from the Kirkwall and Stromness Boys’ Brigade. At the entrance, the Queen was received by Councillor Edwin Eunson, the Council convener who, after presenting the vice-convener, Councillor George Stevenson, asked Her Majesty to unveil a commemorative plaque and declare the building officially open.

He said: “I have the honour to welcome you here and to convey to your Majesty the loyalty and devotion of the people of Orkney, which they have already shown spontaneously at the show park and on the roads and streets as the Royal car passed.

“We rejoice to welcome you once more, with His Royal Highness Prince Edward, and we are happy to re-affirm our loyal service and to express our gratitude that you should have broken your holiday in order to be with us on this occasion.

“This building, which you have graciously consented to open, has a long and honourable tradition at Kirkwall Grammar School and is now entering upon a new phase in its history as the headquarters of Orkney Islands Council.”

Accompanied by Councillor Eunson and the Chief Executive Mr Graeme Lapsley, the Queen was given a short tour of the new £1.25 million Council offices.

The Orcadian reported: “After tea in the main Council Chamber, the Queen, after admiring a painting by the late Stanley Cursiter of her 1960 visit, returned to the main foyer where the Orkney Strathspey and Reel Society, under the baton of Mr Rouald Aim, played a three-minute piece, a two-step specially composed to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh.

 “Though the weather was dull, the Queen was delighted with the warmth of her reception and before leaving Orkney said it had been a ‘nice relaxed visit’.”