Memories come buzzing back of the Queen’s only visit to Ludlow

Queen Elizabeth II searches for the queen bee on a stand at Ludlow Market

Billy Auger, now aged 58, of the Augernik Fruit Farm, in Hopton Wafers, near Cleobury Mortimer, remembers having one too many in a local hostelry before meeting the Queen who took a 25-minute walk around Ludlow Market.

“She said she liked the fact that we use traditional brown paper bags, rather than plastic bags,” recalls Mr Auger of the royal visit on Thursday, July 1, 2003.

The Queen talks to a younger Billy Auger at his fruit and veg stall at Ludlow Market in 2003

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