I HAD the great honour of being selected to be part of the Territorial Army street lining party during the celebration of the Queens Coronation.

I was in the 1st Herts TA which used to meet at Watford Drill Hall.

We were in Kensington Gardens for four days under canvas, along with the Gurkhas, Australians and Canadians before the day.

There was quite a big mix of Common Wealth troops.

We were lining the road opposite the Park Lane Hotel.

I was already in the army at the time, but my colleagues and myself went through weeks of training and preparations for the occasion.

We had to make sure our uniforms were immaculate and our shoes polished.

Thousands of people lined the streets waiting for their chance to catch a glimpse of the queen.

We probably had the best view of the Queen as she rode right past us. I got a great look at her and all I can say is that she looked really beautiful that day.

Unfortunately, myself and the rest of my regiment were not looking our best.

The weather was simply atrocious. By the time the Queen came through we were soaked.

We looked a right dishevelled mob with the blanco in our belts coming out.

It rained all day and all the hard work that we put into looking our best did not matter in the end because by the time she came past we were all soaked.

Queen Salote of Tonga came through and it was one of the highlights of the procession.

She sat there in an open coach on her own and the sun had come out and she waved to all the crowd. She was a real character.

At night time we got drunk in Trafalgar Square and sang all the patriotic songs.

It was a once in a lifetime experience and one that I am proud to have taken part in.

Even though it is the Queen's Golden Jubilee this year, I doubt that we will see it on that scale again.

Mr George Howard of Rickmansworth.

August 19, 2002 14:30