Cllr Paul Curtis put the idea forward at the full meeting of Bude-Stratton Town Council, highlighting the many reasons why he felt there was a ‘strong case’ to request a visit.
He said: “The Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall recently addressed the Cornwall mayors’ meeting, stating an interest in receiving applications for forthcoming Royal visits in Cornwall, and would be particularly interested in hearing from communities within North Cornwall.
“Her Majesty the Queen has never visited Bude to my knowledge, and 2018 will mark her 65th year as reigning monarch, which coincides with the 65th year since the formation of Bude Surf Life Saving Club.”
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Cllr Curtis explained the formation of the club, in Queen Elizabeth’s coronation year, 1953, and how the two events were linked.
He said: “Before leaving Australia to work at Australia House, in London, for the Australian High Commission, well known surf life-saver Alan Kennedy informed the Australian Surf Life Saving Association he would be trying to promote surf life-saving in this country, while he was here.
“Alan had spoken to a number of his fellow countrymen, who were based at St Eval during the war, and had been informed there were some great surf beaches in Cornwall, one of the best being at Bude.
“With this knowledge, Alan visited Bude in May 1952 and contacted a number of local people and the town council, regarding starting a surf life saving club to improve safety.
“At the time, there were often incidents occurring on the beaches, with many drownings. Over the next 12 months, through regular correspondence, it was arranged for eleven people from Bude, many of them from the youth club, to take their Bronze Surf Medallion. Alan trained them for the first two weeks of August, with the help of fellow Australian life savers Dave Abrahams, Harry Hucks and Bill Gillingham and on the weekend of August 8 and 9, all the members of the training squad passed their Bronze Medallion.
“On completion of the exam, all present had a meeting at Crooklets, and Bude Surf Life Saving Club was formed and later became affiliated to the Surf Life Saving Association of Australia.
“With more surf rescue equipment now needed, Alan contacted the Surf Life Saving Association of Australia and requested another reel and line to be sent to England.
“At this time, to celebrate the coronation of Elizabeth as the new queen, the Queen and Prince Phillip embarked upon a tour of the Commonwealth, using the Royal Yacht Gothic for some of the trip.
“Whilst in Australia, the Royal party were approached and asked if a new reel and line could be taken aboard the yacht and transported to England, to which they agreed.
“On arriving in London, the reel was used many times for instructional purposes in Brighton, Jersey and throughout Cornwall, before eventually arriving at Bude.
“This reel was used for many years, before being completely refurbished and now stands on show at our clubhouse and is referred to as the Gothic Reel.
“It is very close to 65 years since Bude Surf Life Saving Club was formed and this piece of history connects our club, the first and longest affiliated club of its type in the Northern hemisphere to our present Queen’s coronation and celebration tour of the Commonwealth.
“Furthermore, Prince Phillip is the patron of the Surf Lifesaving Association of Great Britain, and has been since its inception. The Bude club alone has trained hundreds of past members in the skills of life-saving and resuscitation, which they have probably used on occasions wherever those persons have found themselves in the world. From its humble beginning in Bude the association has clubs spread throughout the entire UK.
“I would like to propose that this council resolves to formally invite, through the Office of the Lord Lieutenant, HM Queen and Prince Phillip, to Bude at some point during the summer of 2018.”
The town council agreed to send a request to the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall in respect of the visit and is hopeful that there is a strong chance it is accepted.