What to do for the Jubilee I thought. Polish up the Coronation Oxo tin? Yet again scan the 'Our Queen' transfer book? Too obvious. Too Unmitigated perhaps. But then I remembered. I had my own personal portrait of Our Queen. In 2008 I was suddenly thrust into taking pictures at a garden party at the Royal Artillery's Larkhill barracks in Wiltshire. I expected just to get shots of Chelsea Pensioners tucking into cream cakes, or, if I was lucky enough, detailed close-ups of tanks in battle-ready positions. I got all of that, but beforehand I found myself almost alone behind the press pack barrier, right opposite the Guest of Honour as she was about to unveil a new stone sign for the barracks. Happy Diamond Jubilee Your Majesty.
I have found in life that it does not matter how clever or how witty you are; it is more about being at the right place at the right time.
ReplyDeleteWell done, you!
Were they laughing at you? Lovely photo!
ReplyDeleteMore than likely Sue.
ReplyDeleteWe are all touched by your proximity.
ReplyDelete'We are both of us touched by our strange brief nighness
ReplyDeleteAnd both of us live to tell the tale'.
Sorry, I misquoted that from memory. Not 'touched', 'aged'. It's Max Beerbohm parodying Thomas Hardy.
ReplyDeleteI spent two weeks in 1984 following her about as a reporter when she toured Canada. It is a very odd moment to be within a few feet of someone we typically saw (as Canadians) only on stamps and coins.
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