The ex-Launton Boy remembers meeting the late Queen Elizabeth II - twice

Memories of an ex-Launton Boy

I was all set to write a piece for this month’s Launton Lines when sadly we were advised of the sudden death of our beloved Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

We all knew she had become very frail, as could be clearly seen when she invited the new Prime Minister to form a government, and I had wondered whether this, her 70th (Jubilee) year on the throne, she might still be with us by the year end, but nonetheless, the news of her death came as quite a shock.

Although I am able to remember (faintly) her father, King George VI, it is as if our Queen has been with us forever, and it began to feel as if she would remain with us forever.

It is difficult to put into words how I feel about the Queen’s passing and what she meant to me personally throughout my life.

I first saw Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II back in 1957 at the World’s Jubilee Jamboree when Scouts came from all over the world to the great park of Sutton Coldfield (now Royal Sutton Coldfield), the town in which I was born. Both the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were there and I actually saw them twice that day. Once was in Sutton Park where she reviewed all the Scouts on parade (of which I was never one) and the second time was in a sparkling opentopped Landrover. As a nine-year-old boy I found the whole experience most exciting and have never forgotten it.

Like many of my age, I remember well the Queen’s coronation and Union Jacks being hung from front bedroom windows throughout the village, including our own. Goodness knows what happened to my Coronation Mug over the years, but I remember clearly gathering with so many villagers on The Cross, which looked quite different then from the way it appears today, to receive our Coronation Mugs.

Those of my generation will remember those trips to the local cinema, such as The Regal at Bicester, when after the last show of the evening we would all stand for the National Anthem and see on the cinema screen Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in vivid colour riding sidesaddle on her horse. Most of us back then held the Queen in very high reverence, but in the intervening years, the display of reverence seemed to fade for some reason. However, upon the announcement of her passing, unified evidence of that renewed reverence has been displayed throughout the entire British Isles and far beyond.

The last time I saw Her Majesty was when in 2016 she paid a special visit to 1RSME Chatham (The Royal School of Military Engineering) to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Corps of Royal Engineers which I was privileged to attend as the Welfare Officer of the Medway Branch of the Royal Engineers Association, along with my wife Julie. Her late Majesty was the Colonel-in-Chief of the Corps of Royal Engineers and Patron of the Royal Engineers Association (see the heading photo to this story).

I did not have the opportunity to travel to London to Westminster Hall; however, the Standard Bearer of my REA Branch is also a Yeoman of the Guard and was one of those attending Her late Majesty as she lay in State, having also recently attended her upon her Jubilee celebrations.

I was so moved at the passing of our dear late Queen, I wrote a poem from a personal perspective which, I would like to crave your indulgence by allowing me to share it with you.

Keep well and Stay SAFE.

Tony Jeacock | The Ex-Launton Boy | October 2022

Farewell Your Royal Majesty

May You Rest in Peace and Rise in Glory

It’s as if I’ve lost my mother

All over again

For that is what you’ve been

Throughout and beyond our land.

With total dedication

And a love that was profound

You took us to your bosom

And held us by the hand.

I knew of your father briefly

For I was but a boy aged three

We knew not what our nation

From thence was going to be.

But there was no need to worry

As through you we came to see

Not just a very pretty mother

But that your wisdom was the key.

Warmth conjoined with wisdom,

Qualities in short supply

But you, our dearest Majesty

Didn’t even have to try.

We all on earth will miss you

As you rise to a higher plain

And we hope that when our time comes

We will see you yet again.

God Bless You and May You Rest in Peace

A. J. Jeacock 10 September 2022