A Royal Homecoming: The Queen visits Hitchin

On the 14^th June, Hitchin Market Square’s trademark cobbles were carpeted in red and the whole town turned out in droves for a very special visitor.

As part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations, Her Majesty the Queen visited Hitchin. This was a particularly special day for the team at Gatwards because, as one of the oldest businesses in the town, our very own Chairman Anna Gatward and Director Jim Hunter were formally presented to Her Majesty. Sadly Lisa Gatward was on holiday and was unable to be presented

This is not Gatwards or indeed Hitchin’s first brush with Royalty. Earlier generations of the Gatward family would go out to the great houses of the area in a pony and trap to wind, maintain and repair the clocks. One of these houses was St Paul’s Walden Bury, the childhood home of the then Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret.

 Chairman Anna Gatward & Director Jim Hunter were presented to the Queen

Richard Whitmore, author of the book Hertfordshire’s Queen, noted: “1932 was a time when this royal family were as close as they would ever be to living an ordinary life, when they were able to drive into town with their children and browse round their favourite shops. Four years later it would all end when the abdication of the Duke’s elder brother Edward VIII shouldered him and the Duchess and ultimately their elder daughter with the awesome burdens of monarchy.”

Gatward was one of the shops that the future Queen Mother would often visit with her daughters. It was said that the Queen Mother had a particular fondness for Hitchin describing the town as “dear”. She said it was always a "great happiness to visit Hertfordshire, especially Hitchin, “whose lovely old streets and market square hold many happy memories”.

Gatward celebrated its own milestone anniversary recently, with 2010 marking 250 years of Gatwards. Anna and Jim were honoured to present the Gatwards 250 year commemorative book  to the Queen, symbolising not only the Queen’s Jubilee, but Gatwards – and Hitchin’s – long association and profound affection for the royal family.

For more on the history of Gatwards, view the commemorative book or visit our Facebook page.