AS the county prepares for the Queen's visit during this memorable Diamond Jubilee year, one Gazette reader has fond memories of the Queen's visit to Ross during her coronation year in 1953.

Clutching her copy of the Gazette dated April 27th 1957, Mrs Phyllis Wells clearly remembers the day her daughter, Jill, then just seven years old, presented the young Queen Elizabeth with a posy.

"We were living in Goodrich then," said Phyllis, "and the local schools were invited to put their children's names into a hat to present the Queen with flowers." When Jill's name was pulled out, Phyllis could hardly believe it. "Don't be silly!" she said. Nonetheless, new dresses were bought for Jill and her two younger sisters. On the day, they were picked up by a car. "We were stood by the weather station," remembers Phyllis, "waiting for the Queen to arrive. It was very exciting."

Phyllis treasures the paper and the framed photo hangs pride of place in her smart bungalow. And the flower girl? Now living happily in Oxford.