PRINCESS Margaret, beaming and looking glamorous even in uniform, took centre-stage in a full page of pictures and lengthy reports in Berrow's Journal this week exactly 50 years ago.

The Princess had been in Worcester on a royal visit in her role as Commandant-in-Chief of the St John Ambulance Cadet movement. She had inspected more than 3,200 cadets on Pitchcroft and had been greeted by crowds of up to 12,000 spectators.

The Journal of August 1, 1952, reported: "The city was gay with flags and bunting for the occasion, and the ceremonies, which included the enrolling of ambulance and nursing cadets, passed off in truly royal weather. The day had been eagerly anticipated and provided a memorable and colourful spectacle.

"Hundreds of people, mostly women and children in gay summer attire, gathered at the city boundary in Whittington Road, where the Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire, Admiral Sir William Tennant greeted Her Royal Highness.

"After enrolment ceremonies at the Shirehall, the Princess was driven to Pitchcroft to review the huge parade of cadets from all over the Midlands. She was driven past the grey uniformed ranks in a Land Rover flying the Royal Standard.

"Flowers and flags made the scene extremely gay, and the summer dresses and smart uniforms worn by invited guests on the Grandstand supplied brilliant colour. There were, it is thought, about 12,000 spectators.

"The Princess presented Grand Prior Badges for proficiency in 12 subjects to 27 girls, including Patricia Crickmer (17) of Cypress Street, Worcester.

"The Princess said in an address to the gathered ranks of cadets: 'The inspection I make every year as Commandant-in-Chief always gives me the greatest possible pleasure, and I am particularly fortunate that it has brought me to Worcester today, for this is the first time I have visited this lovely old city.'

"The Princess later returned to Sandringham, her aircraft taking off from Defford."

6 In her Women's Column in the same edition of the Journal, Candida (Miss Valentine Noake) informed readers that all had not been well among the thousands of cadets on Pitchcroft.

"It was very hot, and the children were over-excited and had been standing for some time before the great moment arrived. Several boys and girls crumpled into faints, as did one or two of the officers, and they had to be helped by friends and colleagues whose first aid skills were put to swift and effective use."