Museum reopening gets royal treatment

In March, about 100 people, many in Edwardian costume, enjoyed Diss’s first royal visit for 156 years.

Part of Diss Museum’s grand reopening, King Edward VII (Bernard Thorndyke) and Queen Alexandra (Keshar Whitelock) paid a return visit to the town they passed through in 1866 as Prince and Princess of Wales. Arriving in an open-topped Beauford car, they were greeted by Town Mayor, Councillor Eric Taylor, and presented with flowers by Arthur (7) and Ivy (6) BishopSmith. Chris Mordey recited Tennyson’s poem about the Queen, who then went on to address the crowd before presenting prizes for the best costumes. The King then cut the tape to open the museum. The building was decorated with British and Danish bunting, as the Queen was Danish. Jonny Ling provided barrel organ music and Ray Russell played the bagpipes. Museum Manager Basil Abbott, who acted as MC, said: “It was a terrific event and the perfect start to the town’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. It’s good to be open again after our lengthy closure and we’re pleased to be able to open and share collections that are particularly relevant in this, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year. Our Austerity Years display fits in with the Coronation period. We also have a cabinet with royal mugs and memorabilia and a wall display of newspapers and pictures of Diss at the time. We look forward to welcoming visitors back.”