From a Reader
ALUMNI NEWS MAGAZINE | Summer 2022
I thought this piece of history may be of interest to your readers. This year we are celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee of her accession to the throne. Three months before her accession she had been making a royal tour of Canada, among other places visiting UNB. My father Bernard covered this tour for the Beaverbrook Press. I am appending a piece with one or two of his stories. It might be worth asking how many alumni now remember that visit and, like my father, have stories to tell about it. — John Drew (BA’60)
At UNB, Princess Elizabeth was, inevitably, shown the collection of papers Lord Beaverbrook had given the Bonar Law-Bennett Library, including a letter to Lady Hamilton to Admiral Lord Nelson. As the party stepped up to the library, the princess asked then-university president, Dr. Albert W. Trueman, the meaning of the Latin inscription above the door: Ne Derelinquas Me Domine. Dr. Trueman was not caught out.
“Ma’am, it means, Forsakes Me Not Utterly, O Lord.” The easy manner of the princess encouraged him to go further. “There is another, freer, translation of which our chancellor (Lord Beaverbrook) may not be aware: Forsake Us Not Utterly, Your Lordship”.
“That’s a good one,” said the princess, laughing.
Meanwhile, Prince Philip was also having his bit of fun. He noticed that the crowds of students cheering in greeting, were being policed by people wearing red and black armbands bearing the initials: C.P. The prince turned to one and quipped: “The letters don’t stand for Communist Party, I hope?” Their tour of Canada in 1951 was actually a bit of a ball for the royal couple, even to the bull moose and pair of deer, obviously loyalists, turning up by the river in Fredericton as they set out for the provincial legislature. There were many light-hearted moments on the tour to cheer them up, much appreciated given that the princess was constantly worried about her father King George’s ill health.
At one remote spot in upper Canada, a new Canadian family of Dutch origin was standing by a level-crossing, waiting to wave to the royal train as it went past. To their surprise, the train slowed down and stopped. To their even greater astonishment, the princess got down and came across to ask them about themselves. But where was Prince Philip? The princess explained he had always wanted to drive an engine and so had gone up to the front to do so. After several minutes, she said she had better get back on the train. The family edged forward after her. “Be careful”, she said, “with Philip driving, the train may go backwards.”
Within a matter of months of being in Canada, Princess Elizabeth was called upon to assume the burdens of the monarchy. She has been doing that ever since with a great sense of duty, keeping her head down on all constitutional matters except those concerning the Commonwealth (in the development of which she has had as much of a hand as the Canadian premier who greeted her on her tour, “Uncle Louis” St Laurent).
Does the Queen ever look back now, maybe take out an old photo album and remember those last light-hearted days of her youth when she and her Philip criss-crossed Canada, having such a good time, dancing a square dance here, sharing a laugh with children there, before duty called? Do any alumni do the same? — John Drew (BA’60)
Photo: H.R.H. Princess Elizabeth and H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh pause after alighting from the royal car to receive greetings from Mrs. D.L. MacLaren, Mrs. A.W. Trueman, Lt. Gov. D.L. MacLaren and UNB President Dr. A.W. Trueman
ASSOCIATED ALUMNI
Celebrating our 2020 and 2022 award recipients.
IN MEMORIAM
Remembering two former UNB presidents and the legacies they left behind.
