Life hands out four kings and a queen
Levin man recalls when monarch smiled at him
The passing of Queen Elizabeth II has people remembering significant moments throughout her reign and encounters with Her Majesty herself, no matter how brief.
Levin man Ken (KB) Swain is one of those people who has memories of the late Queen intertwined with moments of his own life.
Swain was 18 years old and starting his conscription for the New Zealand Army when Her Majesty’s father, King George VI, died.
He said they had a parade at the camp and gave three cheers for the new Queen before throwing their hats in the air.
After three months of army service he began working for the Ford Motor Company in Lower Hutt, which the Queen visited in 1953.
Swain was sitting and sewing seats for the latest Ford Pilot when Her Majesty arrived.
Staff at the factory had been coached to speak only if spoken to, and to address the Queen as “Her Majesty” as an initial greeting, as then “Ma’am” from then on should the conversation continue beyond pleasantry.
Her Majesty walked towards Swain.
“She looked absolutely beautiful and gave me a beautiful smile. You didn’t look for long, of course,” he said.
Her Majesty stopped and smiled at Swain, before continuing on and stopping to talk to Bob working on the machine beside his.
“I was scared stiff she would stop and talk to me,” he said.
Swain and his wife Norma were married on June 6 in 1953, the same day as the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
As the couple walked from the church, there were bells ringing all over the city heralding a reign that would last 70 years and 214 days.
“I think the flower girl and the page boy thought it was all for us,” he said.
Swain, who was born in 1933, said through his life he had known four kings and a queen — King George V, King Edward VIII, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II, and now King Charles III.
“Four kings and a queen — it wouldn’t be a bad hand in poker now would it,” he said.