The Grandstand......

.....a historic feature of the oval at Queen Elizabeth Park in Masterton.

Built in 1895, the grandstand was first used in early June 1895 as spectators paid to sit in the grandstand to watch the Masterton and Star rugby teams battle it out on the oval. 

Use after this was limited until in 1897 900 children packed into the grandstand for the celebrations of Queen Victoria's reign. In the following years the park was used for athletics and cycling events. Crowds gathered at the oval to celebrate peace following the war. 

The first of three generations of British royals to visit the park was Prince Edward in 1920. In 1927 he was followed by his brother Prince Albert, later George VI along with his wife Elizabeth. Their daughter Queen Elizabeth visited in 1954, and Prince Charles visited with Diana in 1983. 

Today the oval is used for cricket games and the historic grandstand adds a nice appearance to the village green-like atmosphere of the park. 

Tuesday.....a heavy sky with a few light showers passing through. A little warmer for our walk in the park today, 15C

This is a backblip.....during the time emotions were high, low and everything inbetween, it was a huge task to sort and empty the house ready for sale, we got there asyoudo but some days I just couldn't blip, so here I am, quite a while later......