Gathered around the TV, surrounded by Union Flag bunting and a touching sketch of Her Majesty walking hand in hand with Paddington Bear, some mourners were in armchairs, others in wheelchairs.
The silence was absolute as some of the 59 residents of a Solihull care home watched the funeral, solemn and with some clutching tissues, saying goodbye to the Queen. Then, as one they struggled to their feet – some leaning on care staff – to sing God Save the King and welcome their new monarch.
Wiping a tear from his eye, resident Brian Bucknall summed up the feeling in the room. He said: “I’m glad I got to pay my last respects. She sure showed us what service and duty is about.”
The 83-year-old was in the Royal Artillery, joining at the age of 17, and went on to earn the Meritorious Service Medal.
“I was so proud when the Queen awarded me the medal because it is so rarely given out,” he added. “The very first time I met the Queen was at the Silver Jubilee. She was wonderful. She was always wonderful.”
Bursting into tears as he described the moment he heard that Her Majesty had died, he sobbed: “It was a shock. She was my boss for 36 years. I loved and respected her so much.”
For 70 years, the Queen was patron of the Royal Star & Garter charity, which has also has homes in Surbiton and High Wycombe, providing care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia.
In the entrance, a cardboard cut-out of Her Majesty, from their Platinum Jubilee summer celebrations, takes pride of place. Upon news of her death, the residents had congregated to have a sherry as they consoled each other over their loss.
Barbara Bale also spoke of her “tremendous admiration” for the Queen. The 96-year-old said: “I’m sure she would have preferred a quiet life in the countryside with her dogs and horses, but God and duty came first.”
Barbara’s husband Bill was a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm during WW1. “She has lived a very good and long life. There will never be anyone like her,” she added.
Margaret Green, 89, whose husband Hedley served in the RAF, recalls how her father bought the family a television set so they could watch the coronation at home in Olton, Solihull.
She said: “I was in my teens, and it was a joyous day. I’m very sad for her family but so proud to have called her my Queen.”
Elsie Ellis, 98, who served in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, said: “She had led by example – especially so in her work in the Army. I used to be a wireless mechanic, but she was a motor mechanic - at least I didn’t have to roll up my sleeves and get my hands dirty as she did! And she was working right to the end.”
Barbara added: “I wasn’t sad today. I shed my tears when her coffin left Balmoral. Death at our age is only natural, she has lived a long and good life. I’m proud of my country for how they have conducted this period of mourning and the wonderful we gave her.”
- For more visit starandgarter.org
