Royal visits and parties in Wisbech

Royal visits to Wisbech are depicted in a new book that tells how a young Princess Victoria created such a stir that the crowds toppled a fence and slid down a muddy river bank.

The book, called Coronation Parties in Wisbech, documents the day in 1835 when the yet to be crowned young princess, drew such huge crowds outside the town hall, that the fence incident happened and spectators fell into the river.

She wrote about it in her diary of the time.

Kevin Rodgers, said: “The first half of the book is about old royal visits including William the Conqueror, Jane Stuart, Edward IV, Edward VII and Queen Victoria before she was queen.

“The second half is about Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953 and the many street parties that were organised up and down Britain including many fine parties in Wisbech.

“My earliest memory is of the coronation party in Bassetts Estate, around the Staithe Road area, I would have been five at the time and it stands out as a very big day, a very clear and happy memory.”

The book is the tenth in a series of local history books penned by Mr Rodgers, whose favourite subject is giving talks on pop culture from the 60s and the bands who came to play in the Fens, including the Rolling Stones in 1963, Jerry Lee Lewis, Adam Faith and Gene Vincent.

• The book costs £4.50 and is available from Etcetera in Wisbech.