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STORIES

Tim Hodges Photography

Every picture tells a story .... the better the picture the better the story!


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THE QUEEN AND THE GOLD STAFF OFFICERS

The Gold Staff Officers have been on duty at Coronations certainly since that of George III in I76I and probably much earlier.  They were appointed by successive Dukes of Norfolk, hereditary Earl Marshals, to act as ushers responsible for admission and seating of the guests at Westminster Abbey. 

At Queen Elizabeth's Coronation in 1953, there were 400 Gold Staff Officers to assist 8000 guests.

On 12th May 2003 the Queen together with the Duke of Edinburgh joined 50 Gold Staff Officers appointed by the Earl Marshal in 1953 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Her Majesty’s Coronation.      

I had just started to become a professional photographer and was asked by Lord Remnant to organise and take the group photograph. I was only allowed to take three shots which was a daunting task as this was just before the days of the digital camera

 

60th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CORONATION

Ten years passed and  thoughts turned to the sixtieth anniversary of the Queen's Coronation. 

Once again the 1953 Gold Staff Officers, although reduced to 25 number, planned to lunch at the House of Lords to mark this event on the 14th June 2013.

The surviving Gold Staff Officers were augmented by  the surviving Pages of Honour and Pages of the Peers in the Queen’s  Procession in the Abbey.

This increased the total number involved in the 60th Celebration of the Queen's Coronation to 40.

Sadly the Duke of Edinburgh was unable to attend due to his illness.
 
Those who  were present and formerly with the Household Division numbered twelve with all the Regiments of the Household Division represented. 

 

This was only exceeded by the Old Etonians who numbered over twenty.

Again, I was asked to take the Group Photograph. This took place in a smaller committee room at the House of Lords so Studio lighting was impracticable.
 
I  used three Speedlights which were wireless controlled with manual flash settings. However, we were in the digital age now and I had my trusty Canon 5D MkIII to take the picture.
As before I had to organise and take the photograph with the minimum of delay.

It was an unforgettable experience and I am sure you will agree that the Queen looked wonderful on this, her special day.

For the record, I am a preferred photographer at the House of Lords and have extensive Corporate event experience .