King's coronation will bring back memories for man who lined up as Grenadier Guard for Queen's coronation 70 years ago

A pensioner will be watching the King’s coronation with pride next month, having lined up as a Grenadier Guard when Elizabeth II was crowned Queen in 1953.

John Elliott, 89, a resident at De Lucy House Care Home is Diss, said he has one claim to fame, having slept in Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Windsor Castle and St James’ Palace ... albeit in the guardrooms of the iconic sites.

Born in Oakley in 1934, Mr Elliott started his National Service at the age of 18, joining the battalion after his 12-week’s training at Windsor Castle in 1952.

He said: “I was invited to go into the Grenadier Guards, and I went in as my older brother Will was in there.

“I had three years in the Grenadiers and they were three wonderful years, because you are so proud in what you are doing and people are so interested.”

On June 2, 1953, the then 19-year-old was one of the guards lining the coronation procession for the then soon-to-be Queen Elizabeth II.

Asked what he remembered of the day, he said: “We got up at 6.30am, had breakfast and the main thing was to not drink too much water as we would be standing out there for a long time.

“The thing with these sorts of things, like the Trooping the Colour which I also did, is that there are a lot of rehearsals beforehand, so everything is perfect.

“I was marched out to a spot and saluted as the carriages went. We had to stay there until it returned.

“It rained slightly from beginning to end. It was quite uncomfortable because, by the time we came back to the barracks, we were soaked through.”

Directly after the coronation, Mr Elliott went back to the guards’ depot at Caterham Barracks to be a trained soldier – this meant getting the next generation of Grenadier Guards into shape to serve the monarch.

“I did 18 months in uniform and 18 months training new recruits,” he said. “It was such a wonderful time.”

After being demobbed in 1955, Mr Elliott went back to working on the land and, after a few other jobs, became a postman for Diss and the surrounding villages – a role he held for 35 years. He was the standard bearer for the Diss and District Branch of the Royal British Legion for 25 years.

Asked how he will feel watching King Charles III’s coronation on May 6, he added: “I will watch it from start to end as proud as punch. I love the Royal family and guarding them was a great privilege.

“I will also decorate this place as I have done for other royal events. I know what those Grenadier Guards will have gone through to get there, with the discipline and training they have had, and that they will be the last ones to leave that day.”