A golden age of memories

Many of us hardly remember what they ate for lunch yesterday. But two elderly women can still clearly recall what happened 60 years ago.

The two remember when King George V passed away, Princess Elizabeth ascending the throne and being crowned Queen as though it were yesterday.

Ileana Curmi, 78, and Stella Dominy, 89 later this month, have fond memories of those years.

Ms Curmi recalls she was in the first year of University when one of her professors, Prof. Forgerty just fell dead. The University had organised his funeral on a very dreary and wet day in February.

She attended Mass at the Jesuits’ church in Valletta, followed by the burial at the Addolorata. Ms Curmi remembers that on returning home, her mother told her: “Have you heard about the king?” “What?” “He died!” And he died all on his own. “I remember I had a cold but that it passed instantly,” she said.

The princess was in Kenya at the time. However, on arrival back in the UK, Ms Curmi remembers her quite clearly wearing mourning clothes.

“A year later I remember going for the Te Deum at St John’s Co-Cathedral, and then on to my first visit to St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, which was open to the public. We had no TV at the time, and I followed the commentary on BBC. I seem to remember the commentator remark that the Queen had taken off her shoes to rest her feet.”

Ms Curmi remembers that there had been some celebrations and a concert in the harbour. “My mother had knitted me a jersey in the coronation colors – red, white and blue, and bunting had adorned quite a few buildings”.

But the thing that irked her most was the fact that many were referring to the event at the time as the “incoronation”.

Ms Dominy meanwhile recalls that she was in the UK both when the king died and for the coronation.

“I spent coronation day with my mother-in-law, and watched the ceremony on a black and white TV. I presume it was a live show.”

But prior to that she remembers all the drama when King Edward VIII abdicated. I remember her in Kenya going to Tree Tops and then having to change her plans and they had to cut short their visit due to the death of her father.

“People went mad. Here was a young Queen with a young family. It was the start of a new Elizabethan era. She was an attractive Queen with a handsome prince.

“I have great admiration for Her Majesty. She’s remained stable, serene, despite all the turmoil in her family. She never looks bored or shows any sign that her feet are killing her!.

“I hope that these Jubilee celebrations will help to restore peace and create a sense of community again.”

The two women now look forward to keeping their eyes glued to the TV screens and the newspapers, to take in as much as possible of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.