A great grandad has spoken of the moment he was within touching distance of Queen’s carriage during the official coronation procession in 1953.

Henry Neil Linaker, 88, was a year into his National Service and after weeks of intensive training was amongst those lining the route of the Coronation procession.

The Coronation of 25-year-old Elizabeth took place at Westminster Abbey in London.  She acceded to the throne at the age of 25 upon the death of her father, George VI, on 6 February 1952. The one-day ceremony which was watched by millions is said to have taken 14 months of preparation.

Henry, known as Neil to his friends, was 19 at the time, said he was asked to be part of those lining the procession on June 2, 1953, because he was the right height.

He said: “I was a year into my national service and walking through headquarters when a senior officer just looked at me and asked me my height.

“I said ‘5ft 10 sir’ and that was it. He said’ That’ll do’.

“I then had to take part in several weeks of intensive training.”

The procession route was lined with sailors, soldiers, and airmen and women from across the Commonwealth some of whom would serve to hold back the crowd of three million.

The Queen would pass Neil, alongside the Queen Mother in the eight-horse-drawn gold stage coach.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Henry Neil Linaker of Blackburn has spoken of the moment he watched Her Majesty's Coronation on June 2 1953

Neil said his ‘Flight’, like all other servicemen, were stationed in tents at Kensington Gardens leading up to the celebration. They had to be up very early on the day itself to take up their positions.

“The day from the beginning to the end was quite extraordinary. We were up at the crack of dawn and we actually marched through the huge opened gates of the Marble Arch on to Oxford Road and then into Regent Street. This in itself was something new to me, as I’d never before seen the gates open

“It was a wonderful sight to be able to see all these people waving and the crowds got larger and larger.

“I ended up being positioned on the left-hand side of Regent Street, as it approaches Piccadilly Circus.

“At that point, opposite a huge store called Swan and Edgar, Regent Street bends slightly to the left, which caused the procession to move closer to my side.

“If I’d taken a mere three paces forward, I’d have been able to touch the coach, which is the closest I’ve ever been to our wonderful monarch.

“It was a perfect view.

“The coach that carried Winston Churchill also came past. The one thing I remember was the amount of make up he was wearing. Maybe for the TV cameras!.”

Amongst the guests and dignitaries from across the world was General George Marshall, the United States secretary of state who implemented the Marshall Plan.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Here is Neil pictured in his early twenties and as a toddler with his sister Joan in 1935

Neil said during the day itself the crowds went wild at every drill movement he and his fellow RAF members made.

“I remember the staff at the stores opposite were constantly waving us at but we so well drilled by then. We just had to ignore them and be completely professional.”

Neil, a father to three, grandad to two and great grandad to three, grew up in Lancashire and moved to Blackburn 30 years ago with his wife. He worked on the commercial side of the shoe business for most of his life.

He added: “I have travelled across the world and visited many places.

“I even spent four years in Australia. But I will never forget that momentous day. The crowds were ecstatic throughout and it was a joyous and very happy occasion.”