Bill Sykes' Newsletter from America.
(May 2002)
An ex-Brit gives his views-(without fear
or favor)---of the American Scene
Death of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. (1900-2002).
 The
most revered and beloved member of the British Monarchy,
who lived longer than any other King or Queen in British
history, died in her sleep at the ripe old age of 101 years.
Born, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon on the 4th of August in the
year 1900, Elizabeth was the ninth child of Lord and Lady
Glamis.
The attractive young Elizabeth mixed with the highest members
of society, which included the young Prince Albert, the
second son of George the Fifth.
Elizabeth and George married in 1923 and had two children,
Elizabeth in 1926, (the current Queen), and Princess Margaret-Rose
who was born four years later.
Prince Albert was a shy young man and the burden of Kingship
was thrust upon him after the abdication of Edward the Eighth,
(his eldest brother who was to succeed his father George
the Fifth), when the Prince of Wales was forced to give
up the throne after deciding to wed Wallace Simpson, (an
American divorcee).
Here am I, giving a lecture to a British readership upon
the history of the British Monarchy.
But there is a reason for the background information, as
I wish to tell you of my one and only face-to-face encounter
with British Royalty.
 Sometime
in the months prior to the "D" day invasion landings,
King George the Sixth, accompanied by Queen Elizabeth and
the two Princesses, reviewed the British Sixth Airborne
Division on Salisbury Plain.
It was well known that the King on occasion had a slight
stammer, and as I just happened to be in the front rank
of the Battalion, paralyzed with fear, (remember, I was
a very young soldier), I was in dread that the Monarch would
stop in front of me and ask my name.
Guess what---King George did exactly that. "What's
your name soldier", I was so afraid that I might answer
"Ssss-Sykes, Sir", but being the upstanding young
lad that I was, I took a pace forward, saluted, and answered
in a clear and concise voice "Sykes, Sir".
The King said "What part of the country are you from
Sykes" and I responded "Yorkshire, Sir" and
the King said" Good luck soldier".
That night I dreamt that I was kneeling before the King
and he smote me on the shoulder with his sword and said
"Arise Sir Eric of Longwood".
You must remember the old story, "Once a King always
a King, once a night is enough for any man". I still
shudder to think of the potential embarrassment if the words
had come out "Ssss-Sykes, Sir".
 We,
the British contingent in California, raise our glasses
in salute and tribute to Her Royal Highness The Queen Mother
in memory of her devotion to the British people whom she
served so loyally and so well.
My wife and I watched the funeral of her Majesty the Queen
Mother and I must say that the British Armed Force's display
of precision coordinated ceremonial marching was magnificent,
and gave her Majesty a great send off.
The ordinary British people who lined the route of the
cortege on its way to Windsor, away from the pomp and splendor
of Westminster, are also to be congratulated on their display
of affection for the Queen Mother and their quiet and dignified
roadside salute to the Royal Lady of the land, as the coffin
passed their vantage point.
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Death
of the Queen Mother
