30 JULY 1988, Page 42

AFORE YE GO

Leaves from the commonplace book of Wallace Arnold

THERE has always been a special nook in the Queen Mother's heart for the cheery inhabitants of London's East End. When she last visited Rotherhithe in 1941, she was so overcome with affection for the cheery folk that she vowed there and then that she would definitely return within the next 48 years. True to her word, the nation's favourite great-gran made that onerous trip to Rotherhithe last week. Together with Sir Roy Strong and Mr Kenneth Rose, I enjoyed the immense privilege of being in attendance. It was an experience I ani never likely to forget.