Lowering the flag

"One of my earliest memories of a local event was when the Duchess of Kent came to visit Sedgley Blind Institute. I was about four and stood waving my Union Jack. The Duchess spoke to me - one of the few out of many people. My picture was in the newspaper and my family were very proud.

"The 70s were set against a background of the Osmonds and the Bay City Rollers. Every bag, badge and T-shirt was in tartan and some of the first records I bought were Bay City Roller records.

"1977 brought the Queen's Silver Jubilee, which I remember really well, now being the grand old age of nine. Everything seemed to be a souvenir - pencil cases, badges, mugs, nothing escaped without having the Queen or a Union Jack on it.

"I was in the Brownies at the time and remember the commemorative badge we wore on our uniforms. I don't think it was really the significance of that I remember - just receiving another badge for my uniform!

"The 80s saw my senior school years at Wolverhampton Girls High, the early years of which were spent trying to save the school from closure. Much campaigning was done by parents, pupils and staff to keep it open. They succeeded.

"The death of Princess Diana was also very memorable to me, as to most people. I remember it particularly well as I was helping at a cub group at Beaudesert Campsite in Staffordshire. The news was shocking to everyone - children and adults alike. It was very poignant having flag break in the morning and the flag being lowered to half mast."