...AND finally a word on the Queen Mother, once a fairly regular visitor to Teesdale and to the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle. She and Bill Oliver.
Bill was the Echo's photographer in Bishop Auckland, known many a mile for his tweedy hat, his Steradent smile and his red and black company van (number 25.)
That he could sometimes be a bit late was almost certainly due to the demands of serving four different newspapers; whilst Bill never cut corners, the red and black van did it quite frequently.
He was late, at any rate, for an occasion at the Bowes when the Queen Mother was opening a new gallery, or something. The ribbon was cut, curtsies dropped, glasses raised.
Bill doffed his hat, smiled his smile and approached the royal visitor with the closest he could come to deference.
"Excuse me, luv," said Bill (deferentially), "but would you mind doing that again?"
"Why certainly, Mr Oliver," said the Queen Mother - even remembering the dear old chap's name - found another ribbon and cut, graciously, take two.
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