88-year-old Bulwell care home resident, Roy Blake, has been sharing his memories of serving in Queen Elizabeth’s coronation this week, following Her Majesty’s funeral.
Roy, who lives at Fairway View care home, served three years in the Grenadier Guards after turning eighteen.
After extensive training, Roy stood for hours in the iconic uniform and bearskin hat during the coronation in 1953, lining the streets with his fellow guards.
Watching the funeral in the care home’s cinema room, Roy reminisced over the coronation, as he joined the country in saying goodbye to its longest reigning monarch.
Roy said, ‘She was a great Queen, and an example to us all. Her funeral was magnificent, I think she would have been proud – you couldn’t have asked for anything better.’
Councillor Cheryl Barnard of Bulwell Forest paid a visit to Roy and his fellow residents at Fairway View, bringing a book of condolence for everyone to write their farewell messages in. The book will be kept in Nottingham City Archives.
Rachel Squire, the Home Manager at Fairway View, said ‘It was a real honour for our residents and staff members to be able to write in the book of condolence. It’s been amazing to hear all of our residents’ memories of the Queen, and come together to say goodbye.’
• Incredible pictures of Her Majesty The Queen’s Nottingham visits from 1953-2012
