WHEN I WAS YOUNG

The British Monarchy, as the world knows, has just celebrated the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, in grand style to as we all saw!

The homes and streets were decorated in abundance with flags and bunting, my daughter, Shirley Ann and her family who live in Manchester, sent gorgeous pictures and their little cottage looked lovely with all the decorations and flags flying! I could feel the gay atmosphere here in  far off South Africa! No doubt about it, the English know how to throw a party, don't you think? And their patriotism knows no bounds. They are proud of their long and rich history.

My mind went into rewind, back to a time when I was a small girl and growing up in Gwelo, Rhodesia (now Gweru Zimbabwe).  Rhodesia was a British colony at the time and we did things as the British did.

In primary school before each assembly began, God Save the Queen was played, we all stood and sang out lustily in our off key young voices.

The cinema as no exception. Before every movie, God Save the Queen was played, we all stood, but were not expected to sing! 

Below is the town of Gwelo in the 1950's. I think this was rush hour.

I accepted these traditions without question. I took them as my own. The only flag I knew was the Union Jack. I also knew that Winston Churchill was a great politician. In fact the only politician who knew anything about anything, his praises were sang around me. Keep in mind that I was 7 years old!

I also believed The Queen and Winston Churchill were the only two leaders in the world.

Unbeknown to me, Rhodesia had it's own Prime Minister and flag! It was only overseen by Britain.

Below is the Thornhill Officers Mess in the 1950's.

As I grew a little older and was more aware of what was going on around   me I understood  more of what the adults in my life were speaking of. And then one day there was BIG NEWS, President Kennedy of The United States had been assassinated. There were two players in this game now, not just my beloved Queen. Why did I not know this, and where had he been all  my life?? Suddenly there were so many questions.

A small child doesn't know too much about politics do they, they don't need to. They just need to feel safe, secure and loved. Parents know EVERYTHING... well, for a while they do don't they? The older the children get, the bigger the world is, and it can be a dangerous place. There are many leaders and many countries I learned over the years and with it came wars and bloodshed.

And so quite suddenly I lost my Queen, in fact she had never been mine to begin with.

But one thing has never changed, every time I hear God Save the Queen, I still want to jump to my feet....