THE Queen's Golden Jubilee spectacular in London has been masterminded by a former Herefordshire schoolboy.

Sir Michael Parker, 60, who attended Hereford Cathedral School, says he dreamed up the pyrotechnics and light display for the lavish celebrations in his bath.

Sir Michael, who is a friend of the county's High Sheriff, Sir Piers Bengough, has been practically living on Buckingham Palace's doorstep for the past week, finalising two years of jubilee planning.

Tense

There would have been a tense moment on Monday when the Queen stepped up to light the beacon.

His mind is likely to have gone back to the 1977 Silver Jubilee when the enormous beacon he had organised had been prematurely ignited by an over enthusiastic soldier.

The Queen had excitedly said: "Look, look. It's lit already," to an apologetic Michael, who said that everything that could go wrong was going wrong to which Her Royal Highness replied: "Oh good. What fun."

Twenty five years later he was entrusted to organise Monday's National Beacon, choreograph the fireworks display, the musical accompaniment to the Queen's Grand Ceremonial Procession and the Golden Jubilee Festival in the Mall.

Sir Michael was clearly the best man for the job having organised 27 Royal Tournaments, the Queen Mother's 80th, 90th and 100th birthday celebrations as well the Silver Jubilee Chain of Beacons, the Royal Fireworks for the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana, VE Day 50th anniversary celebrations and the largest children's party ever.

Nerves

But the weekend's celebrations were his most ambitious. With 25,000 participants to co-ordinate his battle plans took on record proportions.

Admitting to last minute nerves in the run up to the dream extravaganza, he said: "Considerable. But you don't show them. It frightens the horses."

He added: "You have to appear to be supremely confident, even in the face of chaos, and this could be described as very strictly organised chaos."