Raising a glass to Her Majesty

On February 6, in this her platinum jubilee year, the Queen will have served her subjects for 70 years, and this year particularly has brought back memories of times past.

In 1955, then a young man aged 21, I took part in a military parade at the Aldershot army barracks parade ground in Hampshire to mark Her Majesty’s 29th birthday.

I well remember our immaculately turned out drill sergeant with his brass-tipped and burnished pace stick almost like an extra limb on his body.

Drill practice on the parade ground in readiness for our part in the Queen’s birthday parade amounted to “learning by rote” the numbered movements to try to achieve uniformity of the movements in the ranks.

Standing to attention for long periods of time on the parade ground often led to lightheadedness, and sometimes fainting.

Our drill sergeant’s advice to any of us who might experience the symptoms on the big day was to slowly raise one’s heels off the ground - sound advice, as it happens. However, he then went on to expound that should anyone feel that they were about to collapse they should do so in a controlled and orderly manner so as not to draw attention to themselves.

Imagine the difficulty that some of us “sprogs” had with bladder control, particularly while trying desperately to suppress laughter.

Those who thought that his sage advice was not to be taken with the seriousness intended found themselves doing extra drill and guard duties.

I feel sure that Her Majesty will have come across many characters like our regimental drill sergeant in her 70-year reign, but no doubt showing more control no matter how bizarre the situation.

Although no longer fit enough to march, I shall never the less raise a glass to Her Majesty, whenever it is appropriate to do so, in this her platinum jubilee year.

Michael Clark

Meadow Close, Bridge

The Queen will celebrate her platinum jubilee on February 6