Dateline Cowichan: a royal Duncan visit creates a royal stink

The 1971 visit of Queen Elizabeth was not Duncan’s first brush with roalty. His Roya Highness Edward, Prince of Wales was here in September of 1919. In this shot he boards the train before leaving Duncan, accompanied by C.H. Dickie, M.P.

courtesy Cowichan Valley Museum and Archives

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Queen Elizabeth celebrates her 86th birthday and diamond jubilee this year, so expect to read more about her in upcoming Datelines from this life-member monarchist.

And what a privilege it was for me, along with a Leader      reporting staff that included a very young Graham Bruce, to cover Her Majesty’s visit to Duncan in May 1971. Graham takes up the story:

“The Royal Cavalcade made its way smoothly through the masses of people as it toured the streets of Duncan, stopping at the Provincial (round) Building, where it was greeted by...Mayor James Quaife. Mayor Quaife presented the many dignitaries to the Queen and Alderman Martin Lukaitis introduced the distinguished guests to Prince Philip. Miss Cowichan, the charming Miss Jennifer Williams graciously presented a bouquet of flowers to the Queen...Miss N. C. Denny and Miss D. R. Geoghegan, Freeman of the City of Duncan were presented to the Queen...Her Majesty laid the cornerstone (of the new library and seniors centre) by tapping the stone with the Golden Trowel.”

Not in Graham’s story: Prince Philip sniffed the odour that had dared to waft over the city from the Crofton mill.

“They’d better put a sock in that,” he said.

1971: basketball

In girls’ Mid-Island basketball championship play, Mt. Prevost girls won their division with the scoring of Cathy Stavrakov and Sue Aitken.  They lost their first game in the Island play-off against Oak Bay by three points.

1971: basketball

Supported by the shooting of Ray Faught and rebounding of Mike Hayes, Mt. Prevost captured the Mid-Island basketball championship. Doug Price and Kevin Elder were selected to All-Star teams and Ross McCauley received honourable mention.

1971: theatre

Cowichan Valley Regional Arts Council was hoping to raise $75,000 for a new 700-seat theatre as part of the Duncan Centennial project that also included a new library and seniors’ centre.