"We left home at 6.15 a.m , in order to reach RAF Northholt by 8 a.m., where the cars assembled amidst great secrecy. the promised police escort to Horse Guards Parade did not arrive, so a dark maroon Moggy Minor, whose driver knew the way, led us off to London. What a motley crew we were (your words, not mine! - Webmaster) surrounded by Jaguars, Bentleys and Del Boy’s three wheeler !

Without the police we took the direct route down the Mall to get to Horse Guards, thereby getting a sneak preview of the crowds. However, we were promptly guided back to near the Embankment so that we could be properly security checked. Eventually we were allowed on to Horse Guards.

There then followed quite a long day’s wait but there was plenty to look at including the "Shaguar" from the Austin Powers film. After a while we managed to get a pass out to see the Queen and Prince Philip go by in the State Coach, on their way to St. Paul’s Cathedral.

On the other end of the front row was another Standard product, a Phase 1 "Beetleback" Vanguard, owned by Mark Denton. It later had the honour of leading the parade and the 8 brought up the rear. Among the floats beginning to form up were a giant roast beef of Old England, and fish Fingers, chips and peas with lashings of ketchup.

Also there was my all time favourite car, the Austin Healey 3000.

Coincidentally there was another vehicle in the parade with a local connection.This Morris Minor 1000 van used to deliver mail around the villages to the east of Leamington. No not Krakatoa, as Monty Python wrote, but Offchurch, Eathorpe, Weston and Wappenbury. The present owner, Paul Wood, has written a little booklet about the vehicle’s history, which includes a picture of the former Eathorpe Post Office and mentions the former post-mistress, Mrs Busby, who I often meet, when I drive Southam Mobile Library, which stops outside the old Post Office.

Then all of a sudden the celebrities started to appear. (My apoloies to our international readers, who might have difficulty recognising any of these names! - Webmaster)

Cliff Richard, Maureen Lipman, Wendy Craig, Barbara Windsor, Frank Windsor (no relation, nor  to the other lot), Roy Hudd, Alan Titchmarsh, William Roach (Ken Barlow) and "Don’t tell him Pike!" – Ian Lavender. Peter had heard that Frank Windsor’s father had owned a Standard 9, which he confirmed as I was getting his autograph. Prince Philip also owned one. (Where is his autograph, Graham? - Webmaster)

After that little bit of excitement we were ready to form up for the main parade. The atmosphere in the Mall was absolutely incredible. All this affection and emotion for everything British. We felt so proud and humble to be a part of it. You could not help but wave back at the crowd, just like royalty. I was even on my mobile phone to my family as we drove down the Mall, to make sure they could see me waving on TV.

Eventually we reached Queen Victoria’s statue outside Buckingham Palace and I was still frantically waving, trying to get some recognition from Prince Philip, a fellow Standard Owner, who is regularly sent a Standard Motor Club monthly magazine. I like to think he did recognise the 8 as a Standard.

After the Mall and the Palace we carried on round by Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, Big Ben and back to Horse Guards, while several of the bigger engined cars were falling by the wayside, with boiled up engines. Not so the 8 – sweet as nut - all the way, even when being chased by fish fingers, chips, peas and ketchup, bizarre or what!

Meanwhile back at Horse Guards all that remained of the day was the flypast with Concorde, the Red Arrows and other famous aircraft.

All in all, a fantastic unforgetable day

Update 20th April 2003:

Here is Mark Denton's Vanguard in Horseguards Parade:

And here is a closeup of the  Chairman keeping his wig under a teacosy