At a charity lunch in London recently I sat opposite a man who said the only time he had visited Knebworth was in 1986… for the Queen Concert. We discussed what a great show it had been, and how tragic it was, if fitting, that it turned out to be Freddie Mercury’s last ever live performance. I asked if he had a good view. He confessed that he had the very best view – on stage, just to the side of the keyboards! Not only that, but he had ridden with Freddie on the helicopter to Knebworth – and how magnificent the view had been on arriving at Knebworth and seeing the crowd of 125,000 people, and Knebworth House in the background. I said I knew exactly what he was talking about as we have a large blow-up image of Freddie’s helicopter arriving, on the wall at Knebworth House – it is indeed a magnificent sight!
This image will be part of an exhibition of Queen memorabilia that will be displayed in the Banqueting Hall throughout August. The exhibit has been assembled from the collections of Queen fans from all around the country and beyond, with one or two pieces from our Archive. If you have happy memories of that 1986 evening – or wish you’d been there – I do hope you’ll get a chance to catch the exhibition, which is included in the regular House admission. Not the same as seeing Freddie live – but that privilege has gone forever. Still, the show goes on…
Henry Lytton Cobbold
www.knebworthhouse.com