| King's Mead School: The Royal Visit 1935 | |
Queen Mary and Douglas Shilcock (feeding ducks on the ornamental duck pond in front of the Sanatorium) |
Douglas Shilcock, Queen Mary and King George |
Douglas Shilcock, Queen Mary and King George |
King George V |
King George and Peter Beck |
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HM King George V was convalescing at Devonshire Place in Eastbourne. The brother of the estate agent at Sandringham was Peter Beck. We were told that the Royal Party arrived unannounced. I recall it was a Thursday Scout day, and we were all at Bishopstone. We were recalled, but too late to see our King & Queen. We were told that the King went to the dining room, and sniffed a glass, which had had beer or lager, and remarked: " I suppose you don't feed your boys with lager, Mr Shilcock?" It seems obvious that the staff enjoyed a glass of beer in the absence of the school. The Queen is supposed to have fed the ducks at least a week's rations. Also:- "I do remember that in 1935 the King took up
residence at Compton Place in Eastbourne and I saw him in
an open coach pass by when we were walking on the road
behind the golf links close to the Downs. He looked very
ill and died soon afterwards and we all had to wear black
armbands on our school uniform " |
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