We have been saddened by the news of the sudden death of the Queen so we thought we should take a trip down memory lane and dig out old images of Her Majesty’s visits to the area.

We hunted in the archives and found newspaper cuttings in the archive of some her royal occasions coming to Bolton and surrounding places.

The sovereign brought unity and happiness to people in the borough during her visits.

The Queen first visited Bolton in 1954, a year after her Coronation, when the royal train pulled into Trinity Street Station for the start of her tour of Bolton.

On each occasion, the Queen was given a grand welcome from Bolton folk.

In 1988, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh came here as part of the town’s 150th birthday celebrations.

During the visit the Queen officially opened the £40m Market Place centre and the £5.5m Water Place.

This visit saw crowds turn out to catch a glimpse as Her Majesty helped the town celebrate an historic day for Bolton.

A team of 14 town hall and Bolton Metropolitan College catering staff beavered away to provide a banquet literally fit for a Queen.

We have found the first cutting from 1954 from what looked to be the front page ‘Bolton welcomes the Queen and Duke’ says the Bolton News headline on one of the stories about her 1954 visit, and tells how there was a downpour, and then by some miracle it stopped.

Women and children had waited three hours to catch a glimpse of the Queen.

It recalls: “Red roses, given by a local florist, were worn by hundreds of children who lined the route.”

Another article described how Trinity Street Station had ‘never looked brighter for the first time visit of a reigning monarch to the town in nine years, and the spirits of thousands who had waited for some hours in the grey-morning drizzle were as high as they could be’.

“The children were waving banners, streamers and flags and many of the women held large white handkerchiefs and flags.

“While crowds waited outside, the scene on Platform 3 where the Queen and Duke arrived was one of colour and excitement.

“As the downpour increased the waiting crowd had their first opportunity to cheer as the colourful group entered the station at 9.45am.”

Another article reported on the attention to detail on the day: ‘Last-minute touches to the red carpet leading up the town hall entrance were made with a vacuum vying for noise with an Auster aeroplane operated by Lancashire County Police’.

You can just imagine the anticipation as the royal car arrived... “The great burst of cheering brought a sunny smile to the face of the Queen. The band burst into the national anthem.”

Robert Bradley, a Second World War veteran, said: “She only looks like a girl.”

Another article in the same paper described it as ‘Moments in a great occasion’.

Praise for Bolton was given by the Duke of Edinburgh when he said: “What a beautiful civic centre you have in Bolton - and what a lovely setting’, while inside the Albert Halls, the Queen remarked: ‘How well it is set out’ and spoke at her delight at the welcome she received.

The Bolton News also captured some great moments in 1968 when the Queen visited Halliwell.

It said: “Local industrialist Tom Markland was revealed as the mystery man who donated £1,000 for the cottage facelift at St Paul’s Place in Bolton.

“Mr Markland was presented to the Queen during her 20-minute visit to Halliwell.”

“Halliwell Road was hung with flags and ribbons and the Queen’s car arrived to loud cheers and the peal of recorded bells from the church.”

The front page in December 1988 described how Bolton ‘laid on a spectacular welcome as the Queen and Duke of Edin burgh joined in the town’s 150th anniversary celebrations’.

“Flag-waving crowds packed the pavements and others watched from windows and rooftops during the four-hour visit.

“Six thousand schoolchildren had been bussed into the town centre to join the welcome.”

Another story was about the £5.5m ‘showpiece leisure centre pool being given the royal seal of approval’

“The Royal couple were introduced to Bolton Council leader Cllr Bob Howarth and his wife Josie and Conservative Group leader John Hanscomb and wife Norma.

“The Queen was then presented with a posy of flowers by Michelle Henry, aged 14, of Shelley Walk, Halliwell.”

Another story told how Maureen Crook from Deane had camped outside from 8.30am with a deckchair and flask of coffee.

She said: “There’s no way I’m going to miss this.”

Denis Hamer, from Halliwell, took the day off work to see the Queen.

He said: “I had to be here, it might be 20 years before we get another Royal visit. I like a bit of pageantry.

“Last week I got a wave off Miss World when she came to Bolton, you never know I might get one off the Queen today.”