On Her Royal Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, we look at her connection to Salford.
70 years ago, the Salford Royal Technical Institute marked the coronation of the Queen in 1953 by decorating the outside of the (Peel) building. As the first coronation to be televised, it was watched by 27 million people in the UK and millions more worldwide. Salford’s residents celebrated in style!
In 1961, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her late husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, formally opened the Royal College of Advanced Technology, Salford, based in the newly constructed Maxwell Building. Creating Salford as a College of Advanced Technology was part of ten national colleges that gained elevated status and were approved to award degree programmes at the university level.
Written reports of the official opening on 24 May 1961 describe how the Queen formally opened the College from the stage in Maxwell Hall by ‘pressing a button to unveil a commemorative plaque’. The royal party was given a tour of the new building which included the state-of-the-art physics and electrical engineering laboratories. Outside, Salford City Police Band entertained guests and onlookers as they gathered along The Crescent for a peek at royalty.
For a Wednesday in May, it was also marked with glorious sunshine. The day was so relaxed that one onlooker, a small boy, was so in awe of proceedings that he even forgot to wave his brightly coloured Union Jack flag for the Queen! It later transpired that he’d mistaken the principal and chairman of the governors, both in their ceremonial robes, as the Pope and Bishop of Salford!
Later in 1967, when the institution was granted university status, Prince Phillip was installed as the University of Salford’s first Chancellor, a post he held until 1991. According to the records, in 1977 the University marked the Queen’s Silver Jubilee by planting an oak tree close to The Library. Keep a lookout next time you are passing!
Words and images were compiled by the University Archivist Alexandra Mitchell and Simon Hadfield. Alex is currently involved in the Modern Backdrop.
Royal Technical College, Salford, decorated for the coronation of HRH Queen Elizabeth II, 1953.
Unidentified Salford street decorated for Queen Elizabeth II Coronation, 1953.
Visit of the Queen, 1961. Presentation on the stage, Maxwell Hall. Royal College of Advanced Technology, Salford.
Visit of the Queen and crowds, 1961. Royal College of Advanced Technology, Salford.