Local History - Charter Day

Charter Day, 11th March 1954, saw HRH Princess Margaret present Solihull with its Charter of Incorporation as a Borough.

Huge crowds greeted her as she travelled through brightly decorated streets from Solihull Station to the Odeon cinema at Shirley, where the presentation ceremony took place.

Afterwards, the Princess signed the distinguished visitors' book at Solihull Council House in Poplar Road. The Council House itself was adorned with flags, drapes and shields bearing Princess Margaret's personal cypher and the Solihull coat of arms.

In a deviation from the scheduled programme, the Princess also asked to visit St Alphege church, where she spent half an hour looking round the historic building.

She later attended a civic luncheon  at Lyndon Secondary School at which further presentations were made.