Classic Flyers Aviation Museum archivist Peter Layne experienced a surreal moment on the day Queen Elizabeth II died.

'I was auditing boxes of items when I stumbled on a pennant,” says Peter.

The bright red pennant is a souvenir made in 1949 to commemorate the expected royal visit to New Zealand of King George VI.

'It was remarkable coming across it on Friday in that only hours earlier Queen Elizabeth passed away.”

The 1949 Royal Tour was cancelled after much preparation had taken place, which included the production of commemorative coinage, pennants and other items.

'King George VI who was in poor health, was unfit to travel and the tour was largely forgotten,” says Peter.

A shortened tour was later planned for May 1952, and when the King again fell ill it was decided Princess Elizabeth would come instead. But at the first stop on this tour, in Kenya, the young princess learned of her father's death and she returned home. Her coronation took place in June 1953. Her visit as Queen Elizabeth II later in 1953 was the first time a reigning monarch had set foot in New Zealand, taking in 46 towns and cities during six weeks.

The pennant, which was made for the Hamilton part of the 1949 Royal Tour that never happened, was given to Classic Flyers in 2012.

'Evidently there are momentos such as this one still out there,” says Peter.

Anyone who has memorabilia, old family keepsakes or artefacts that may have historical or cultural value to Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty can contact the Tauranga Heritage Collection by phone: 07 5777 000 or email: Heritage.Collection@tauranga.govt.nz