Royal Birkhall - 2 - Tony Cunnane's Life and Times

We were taken inside the house and given a cup of tea, served from a silver tea pot - on a silver salver of course. We then asked to go to a bathroom so that we could make ourselves look tidy. In the meantime one of the staff found a suitable lace cloth and table and placed them on the front lawn. When we had combed our hair, I having decided that we would not wear our service hats, we joined Sir Alastair on the lawn where he was carefully placing the samovar on the table.

I then saw that a small lady was approaching from the house. With a shock, I realised that it was the Queen Mother. She must have been waiting inside the house until we came out onto the lawn. Surely Russ and I had not kept Her Majesty waiting?

"They will be overhead at 11.30, Ma’am," I replied, with fingers crossed. "The Red Arrows are leading and they’re always on time."

"I know! I do so enjoy watching them. We have about 20 minutes to wait then. Would you like me to show you my private gardens?"

The Queen Mother led the way across the lawn, down a few steps, over a ha-ha, and into her private garden. I suddenly noticed that Sir Alastair had silently withdrawn from the scene and the three of us were all alone. For ten minutes or so Her Majesty proudly showed us her flower beds, explaining how much she enjoyed spending time in this quiet garden, then she excused herself and disappeared towards the house leaving Russ and I alone in the garden. A few minutes later we started to make our way back up to the front lawn. As we did so a rather unkempt looking man came out unexpectedly from behind some bushes and confronted us. It really was amazing how people kept silently appearing and disappearing. It was almost as though this man had been waiting off stage ready for his cue to make his appearance. He was supporting a large artist’s easel over one arm. I assumed he was another secret service agent although he did seem rather old for that sort of job.

"Good morning," he said, holding out his spare hand to be shaken. "You must be the gentlemen from the Red Arrows. I’m the Duke of Hamilton and I’m very pleased  to meet you."

I racked my brain swiftly and decided that the correct form of address was ‘Your Grace’. If I was wrong the Duke didn't correct me. We chatted as we made our way back to the front lawn, then he looked at his watch and said, "Oh dear, it’s almost time. I’d better go and change. Excuse me please."

"I invited the television crew here so that everyone in Scotland can see the flypasts and I’ve asked the Headmaster at the village school to let  the children out to watch," explained the Queen Mother.

Whilst I was explaining to the Queen Mother where the formation would come from and the fact that they would fly past twice, I noticed the Duke of Hamilton, now immaculately dressed in a morning suit and looking much more ducal, come out of the front door and take his place in the line up of house guests. He smiled in my direction. That had been a pretty smart change of clothing in more senses than one.

I peered into the distance towards Ballater, hoping that Squadron Leader Thurley would be on time. The Queen Mother saw the formation before either Russ or I did.

"There they are," said the Queen Mother pointing excitedly. It was another five seconds or so before the aircraft came into my vision!

The Red Arrows followed closely by the Russian Knights, looking enormous by comparison to the British Hawks, swept over the town of Ballater and down the valley at 360kts and 500ft above the ground. Exactly on time to the nearest second, the formation flew directly over the spot on the lawn where the Queen Mother was standing. The Commandant-in-Chief raised her right hand in salute. Russ and I had moved back a few paces so that the TV crew would be able to film the Queen Mother without having us in shot. The corgis at Her Majesty’s feet looked up disdainfully at the unusual noise.

Adrian Thurley then manoeuvred his 17 aircraft formation, nine Red Arrows, six Su-27s and two photographic chase Hawks, around a wide right hand circuit over the mountains that encircle Balmoral Castle for a second flypast. The Royal corgis totally ignored the aircraft this time round. Calm once more descended upon Royal Deeside.

"That was magnificent," said the Queen Mother turning to Russ and me. "It brings a lump to the throat and a tear to the eyes. Please tell all the pilots, RAF and Russian, how much I admire their skill and precision."

I promised to do just that and Her Majesty withdrew. Sir Alastair led Russ and me back to a side entrance into the house and we left a large pile of Red Arrows’ brochures and stickers for the Housekeeper to distribute amongst the staff. After changing back into civilian clothes in a private room inside the house, we set off on the long drive back to Scampton. The same guard was on duty as we drove down the avenue. He flagged us down.

"Have you got any brochures left, please," he asked. "There’s half a dozen of us here and we’re all Red Arrows’ fans but the ones you just left with the Housekeeper will all have been snapped up by now."

We handed over the rest of our gizzits. I was very impressed with the internal communications!

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