WHEN the Duke of Edinburgh visited the region back in 1957 his visit with Her Majesty The Queen included a stop off in Hagley.

On St George’s Day, April 23, Prince Philip accompanied his wife Queen Elizabeth II on a tour of the region which also included visits to Stourbridge, Brierley Hill, Dudley, Halesowen and Kidderminster.

A report which was compiled by Don Freeth in June 2002, based on a paper read by Mrs D Nock to the Hagley Historical and Field Society on October 26 1965, said residents had worked hard to give Hagley Railway Station a makeover ahead of the Royal arrival by train.

They even went to the lengths of taking up the rough bricks on the platform and replacing them with smooth paving stones where the Royal train would stop.

The County Express’ April 27 1957 edition reported a detailed account of the transformed station, reading: “The station normally a cheerless place, as indeed most country stations are, was transformed into a gay and colourful scene.

"The traditional red carpet covered the arrival platform and surrounding it and over the bridge was a profusion of floral decorations interspersed with the Royal Cipher and the Royal Coat of Arms.

“The floral decorations were the work of Blakedown nurseries, supervised by Mr J R Bent, and very attractive it looked.

“In all there were 1,500 pot plants, including Hydrangeas, Cinerarias, Pelargoniums. This all helped to make an attractive background to the large lettered sign ‘Welcome to Hagley’.”

Mr Freeth’s report said the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were met by the Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire, Admiral Sir William Tennant on arrival and as they left the Royal car drove away giving around 50 people, in an enclosure erected in the drive by British Railways, an unforgettable view of the visitors.

The car then turned into Station Road, up Park Road, past a crowd of several hundred schoolchildren - increasing speed as it headed out into the green belt of Worcestershire between Hagley and Halesowen.

Share your memories of the Duke of Edinburgh with us by emailing bev.holder@newsquest.co.uk.