The Queen Comes to the Queen

by NB Armstrong (July 2012)

The wooden gate entrance to the private Park Estate does little to inhibit anyone wishing to tour its traffic free streets. Its sought after addresses were built onto the former Castle deer park at a time when the Leen was open all the way to the soft sandstone rock which underpins so much of Nottingham city centre. There are no droves of residents streaming from here to the market square. Amanda, a first year Trent Uni student, seems to be quick stepping it to town for a prime viewing spot.

Outside Debenhams a plastic flag seller is raising money for Help for Heroes.

Things are getting very tight along the walkway between the crash barriers in front of Debenhams and the department store itself. It is supposed to be open to passage at all times. But the prams and the confused elderly and the stewards themselves are thickening the artery and you start to envy the office workers up on the rooftops and, especially, the drinkers on the second floor of The Joseph Else Wetherspoons on South Parade. I feel most sorry for the fifteen or so eight year olds from St Josephs, uncomplainingly hemmed in and seemingly brought here to view adult backs seeking out a better spot in which to capture uploadable phone footage. Little John, the bell of the clock mechanism installed by William W. Cope up in the dome of the Council House, rings out ten deep pounding strokes, and the anticipation builds to a gabble of speculation.

By contrast, the short, by now, are in hell.

The Royal Standard hangs indomitably over the Council House, its yellow and red all the more resplendent against the banks of grey white brown clouds, and three of the four royal aces disappear into the upmarket Exchange shopping arcade. But we want more. Little John reminds the Queen that it is now 10:30 and she had better hurry up to make that Vernon Park opening ceremony at 10:55.

NB Armstrong is a writer and translator. His book, Korean Straight Lines, will be published this month.

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