The Day I nearly Met the Queen

In 1985 I became the head teacher of a very large junior school in Luton. My predecessor had introduced Italic handwriting to the school, a tradition that I continued and encouraged. Pupils also entered The Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother’s Handwriting Competition held annually at The East of England Show in Peterborough. The work of our pupils was always displayed amongst the runners up but in 1991 that changed, one of the pupils gained third prize and he and his father were invited to receive the prize at the show. Adding to the importance was the information that Her Majesty The Queen was presenting the prizes during her visit to the show. Knowing that I was a competent photographer the staff told me that I had to go and record the event. Tongue in cheek I phoned Buckingham Palace to request a pass to the V.I.P section, to my surprise both the school and myself were known to the person I dealt with and the next morning the required passes were couriered to the school. I warned the father to leave no later than 07.30 on the day as traffic would be heavy going to the show. I arrived early and made my way to the enclosure for parents and guests. At the appropriate time the Queen, accompanied by the show’s organiser and minimal security, arrived to award the prizes. The third prize-winner was called and no one came forward, oh horror the boy was late. The second and then first prizes were awarded and the Queen turned to make her way to the next event, at that moment my pupil, brother and father arrived. Somehow the Queen as told and she immediately turned round went back to present the prize including speaking to him about his work and the book. This was not a representative but Her Majesty the Queen taking time to present a prize to a latecomer when she could so easily have carried on with her schedule. I was able to have the photographs printed, enlarged and displayed for the next day. I kept the originals and after a search found them so am able to include two pictures the sun came out just as I photographed The Queen with the show’s organiser so she has her eyes closed. I could have reached out and touched her That is how close she was to others and me in that stand, a day I have never forgotten.