Diamond Jubilee story: Swainshill man Graham Davies proud to have marched at Queen's Coronation (From Hereford Times)
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Diamond Jubilee story: Swainshill man Graham Davies proud to have marched at Queen's Coronation
3:30pm Friday 1st June 2012 in Local News
Graham Davies with his army records
A MAN will join in the jubilee celebrations 59 years after marching in the coronation procession.
Graham Davies, 77, of Swainshill, marched 13 miles during the procession with the Royal Artillery on June 2, 1953.
As a gunner he trained for three weeks, marching 17 miles a day, but says all the training was worth it.
"There was a fantastic atmosphere with all the people around," said Mr Davies.
"Even though we didn't see the Queen, the excitement of going around in the procession was good.
"I joke with me wife who watched the coronation and say 'Did you see me on the televsion that day?'"
A year later he did see the Queen when he stood directly in front of her as a military policeman in Motherwell.
He said: "I couldn't believe it when I saw her there.
"More than anything I was so surprised at how tiny she was."
