When Queen Victoria died a century ago this week, there was widespread acknowledgement it was the end of an era.

Many could remember for years after where they had been when they heard the news in much the same way as others could when President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963.

The Queen had a roller-coaster ride with public affection during her record-breaking reign. There was tremendous sympathy for her when, as a young adult, she succeeded to the throne in 1837 and for Prince Albert when he proved to be a man of innovation and invention.

But the Queen's priggish nature began to annoy people. It began early on in Brighton when she sold the Pavilion because it was too public for her and the town felt betrayed when she took the treasures away in more than 100 cartloads.

When her beloved Albert died and she withdrew from public life for many years, she also lost a lot of credit. But it began to revive in her old age until it found expression in a tremendous well of public sympathy for her at her Golden Jubilee in 1887. This lasted until and beyond her Diamond Jubilee although by then she was old and not much seen in public.

I can remember where I was when King George VI died. The vicar's wife ran fast and breathless into the school assembly to announce the news in hushed tones. Then, for the first time in our young lives, we sang God Save the Queen.

Now Elizabeth II, who like her predecessor, has experienced her ups and downs in public favour, is approaching her own Golden Jubilee in just over a year's time. While she has requested no great celebrations, some people may have other ideas.

At the very least, it is surely time for street parties bigger and better than those held during the Silver Jubilee in 1977. At best it could be an excuse for some grand public projects to be started - or finished.

The Clock Tower in Brighton was built for Victoria's Golden Jubilee and has survived many attempts at demolition. It is now regarded as a symbol of Brighton, yet it is in a sorry state. The plans to revive it seem to be going nowhere.

How fine it would be if the tower could be renovated through public and private cash leading to the restoration of the golden-ball mechanism on the top. This would be a public attraction and could easily be arranged so that it did not make the noise that caused it to be abandoned. On the Downs near Streat, a plantation of trees was arranged in a V-shape to commemorate Victoria and it is still there. An E-shaped plantation would not be too costly. It might also be possible to have scholarships, architectural competitions or honours named after her.

The Queen herself might have a surprise for us all. It is possible, though unlikely, that she could announce her abdication. If not, the chances are that she could carry on to an age when poor old Prince Charles would be an old man by the time he succeeded to the throne. After all, the Queen Mother (who will break Victoria's record as a queen if she survives much longer), is 100 and still going fairly strong.

By then the Queen will have more than fulfilled her public duties to the nation and will be in her mid-seventies. While I detect no great agitation for a republic, there would be some for a change.

There is a precedent for this in the Netherlands where Queens Wilhemenia and Juliana each quit after a respectable length of time to allow their children to take over the reins. Not many people sing the National Anthem any more, but when it comes to the line Long to Reign Over Us, some of her loyal subjects can be heard whispering: "But not too long."