Queen's Silver Jubilee visit to Wigan
Photo: Rev David Long

20th. June 1977 Queen Elizabeth and Duke of Edinburgh During this the year that the nation was celebrating the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, a royal tour of the North West had been arranged which included a visit to the Borough in order to view an arts and crafts exhibition being held at the Turnpike Gallery in Leigh. The original arrangements being based upon Her Majesty leaving the royal train at Lowton Sidings, this later revised on the basis that Wigan North West Station would be a more suitable disembarkation point. Here the Queen was greeted by the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, the Mayor of Wigan, the High Sheriff and local Members of Parliament. A military guard of honour was provided by the Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry and a military band played the National Anthem. After the brief ceremony in Wigan, the royal party departed Wallgate travelling via Standishgate, and through Higher Ince, Hindley, and Hindley Green to Leigh Town Hall Square and from there to their tour of the Turnpike Gallery.