A Second World War hero aged 89 is hoping Britain’s Got Talent will help him realise his dream of singing for the Queen.
Colin Thackery lives as a Chelsea Pensioner after his wife Joan died three years ago after more than 60 years of marriage.
Now he has launched his bid to win the ITV talent competition and bag a slot at the Royal Variety Show.
Colin served in the 45th regiment of the Royal Artillery, and went to war in Korea just two weeks after getting married.
There, he lost some of his hearing in his ear after coming under attack.
Despite this he continued to sing – and is now going for glory despite nearing 90.
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Talking about what his beloved wife Joan would say about his BGT audition, he joked: “Well, first of all, she would be highly critical, because that’s that she was.
“Joan had a very good alto voice. In fact, we both sang together in an operatic society. She would have been highly critical, if I’d done anything wrong.
“She was typical northern girl, they don’t say a lot, but they think a lot. But she would have been delighted.”
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Colin said it was “bit nerve wrecking” walking out in front of the judges, including David Walliams and Simon Cowell.
“But they were so nice to me,” he says.
“They’re very kind and they treated me very well, and put me at ease. So I launched straight into my song once it was ready and I’m very pleased that I got a good result.”
Colin, who has four grandchildren and two children, lived in Norwich with wife until she died.
He then moved to the Royal Hospital Chelsea with the Chelsea Pensioners.
Talking about the possibility of singing for the Queen at the Royal Variety Show if he wins, he said: “I served her for 25 years, I’d love to sing to her.” If I did, I would die happy.”
Colin told how he suffered frost bite while serving the army during the Korea war.
He said: “Up in the mountains, it was extremely cold. It wasn’t so much snow, it was that awful wind factor business, that cooled everything down. Happened to a lot of other chaps too.”
He also told how he nearly died during one attack in which gunfire sprayed all over him.
“I thought I was dead... it knocked us all over,” he says. “I couldn’t hear for ages afterwards, and that must’ve been the start of my deafness.”
Asked what his family thought of going on Britain’s Got Talent, he said: “I’ve had my granddaughters texting me back. Saying, “Well done, granddad!” They’re all for it.
“One thing I love to do, I love to sing. The more I can sing, the better.
“If don’t use it at my age, you could lose it. This is why I like to sing.”
