QEII, and both Hip and Ike were members of the NZ Army Coronation Contingent. My Dad, Hip, brought home a packet of Ceylon tea and it was forever kept in the china cabinet and kept as an artefact. Another souvenir was a red-leatherette box, suede lined and keeping compressed blocks of Horlicks lollies. That box only disappeared a few years ago. I remember eating one, when it was fresh! Dad brought two hair combs; they were tortoise-shell plastic and were held inside a brassy-gold case that had an enamel showing Windsor castle. One comb was for Mum and the other for me. Dad brought home two leather shoulder bags from Egypt. Both had a small mirror in the folded ove flap. Mum's was dark brown leather and mine was a goldenbrown, with scenes of the pyramids and camels punched in. From somewhere on the to England, Dad brought a lemon-colour dress for me. Postcards arrived for Mum and one for me from his visit to Scotland on that same trip.
When the Queen and Prince Philip came to New Plymouth, Dad was in charge of the battery that put on a display at Pukekura Park. I can only remember being in the park, on a corner in the centre, waiting to see them drive by, also seeing them in the main street of New Plymouth.
A few days ago, Mari celebrated her 78th birthday. She had a splendid week of events organised by Jack and family. Happy Birthday to our youthful cousin in Brisbane.
