Her Majesty the queen visits Buckinghamshire

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN VISITS BUCKINGHAMSHIRE Aylesbury ex-soldier who danced with The Queen hopes to meet her again at Court Garden House Jubilee Luncheon Veteran soldier Bill Julian from Aylesbury is hoping to meet Her Majesty The Queen for a second time when he attends the Court Garden House Golden Jubilee luncheon at Higginson Park on Friday 10th May. 51 year-old Bill, who lost both legs due to diabetes, first met The Queen when he was serving in the famous Black Watch during the sixties. He was chosen to attend a yearly tradition at Balmoral, which included joining the Royal Family on a shooting party and attending a special ball. At the ball, the soldiers were allowed to put their names down on The Queen's dance card, and Bill was lucky enough to get a dance. "I remember she came across as very normal," says Bill. "I was just eighteen at the time and extremely nervous, so I didn't really chat with her. But it's a fantastic memory that I'm very proud of." Bill will be a guest at the luncheon attended by The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh for local disabled people and their carers. He is one of four veterans attending who have received support from The Royal British Legion. In 2000, Bill, who was the landlord of a pub in Tingewick, had the second of his legs amputated because of diabetes. No longer able to manage the pub, the brewery informed Bill and his wife that they had to leave. "I lost my job and my home in one fell swoop," says Bill. "But I got in touch with the Legion and they helped me out straight away." Local Legion case worker Fred Matthews (also attending the luncheon) helped Bill find a new home and equipped it with a cooker. Most importantly, the Legion provided Bill with an electric wheelchair, which Bill says "transformed my life and gave me back my independence." A little older and wiser, Bill is hoping to be a bit less shy if he is introduced to The Queen on Friday. "I'm very proud that the Legion have given me another opportunity to meet The Queen. And, although I'm not sure she'll remember our turn around the dance floor all those years ago, I think I'll have a bit more to say if she stops to chat this time." ENDS For more information contact Georgia Veats in The Royal British Legion Press Office on 020 7973 7237 or e-mail gveats@britishlegion.org.uk Notes to Editors: The Royal British Legion is Britain's leading ex-Service charity protecting the welfare, interests and memory of ex-Service people and their families and dependants since 1921. Some 13 million people - of all ages - are eligible to approach the Legion for support, ranging from resettlement and war pensions advice to benevolence grants. Issued by: The Press Office, The Royal British Legion, 48 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5JY Tel: 0207 973 7265/7296/7292 Fax: 0207 973 7239 ISDN Broadcast studio: 0207 321 0476 (By prior arrangement) Internet: www.britishlegion.org.uk ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/05/07/20020507BIT01020/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/05/07/20020507BIT01020/wkr0002.pdf