"Royal Tribute" drabbles by Neville Hunt

Three Cheers for the Red, White and Blue (4 of 4)

Royal Tribute #4

Despite not having been graced by the patriotic colourful spectacle The Red Arrows might provide, our friend and host was determined our Jubilee Prom would close with a colourful reminder of our national identity, in support of our glorious heritage and gracious Queen.

As the final rousing chorus lifted our hearts to the heavens, those looking in a less heavenly direction might have seen our host darting around her beautiful garden, throwing aloft white helium balloons and those of a red and blue hue.

I swear I heard the words “Bugger the environment!”, but I must have been hearing things!

The Flypast (3 of 4)

Royal Tribute #3

To add to our spiritual, emotional, historical and musical improvement, and clearly to salute our monarch, (whom we were disappointed not to have booked up for this Jubilee Prom, since it was in her own honour!), we too had a flypast. I can’t claim there were exactly 70, but they were certainly eager to delight us. There was no red, white and blue smoke like the Red Arrows, but our flypast was determined to match the noise levels of Ryanair, easyJet and Wizzair.

With accents clearly transatlantic, but significantly rooted in the Commonwealth, the flock of Canada Geese hip-hoorayed.

Joining in (2 of 4)

Royal Tribute #2

The soprano was heading for the high notes. We guests, having picnicked, were now enjoying a pot pourri of Gilbert & Sullivan, 50s show tunes and rousing anthems from the Last Night of the Proms. Our Queen for 70 years was being royally lauded. We joined in the singing when commanded.

Then as she’d hit the high note, a nearby cockerel topped it. Everyone laughed. The chicken’s interruption was joined by a stream of passenger jets above. And then rockstar Liam Gallagher, banging out his tribute at nearby Knebworth, added his threehalfpence.

But a lone crow’s squawk topped them all!

Uninvited Guests (1 of 4)

Royal Tribute #1

It was a special evening to celebrate our favourite nonagenarian, aka Elizabeth, 70 years our Queen. We sat alfresco as the small opera group led us in singing our platinum congratulatory message alongside rousing British songs.

Our venue was The White Cottage, a beautiful ancient house in romantic gardens, with the babbling river Lea passing through, eventually to join the mighty Thames. The house, occupied by a friend of ours, neighbours Brocket Hall, once owned by Lord Melbourn, the favourite Prime Minister of another queen, Queen Victoria.

We joined the professionals in singing... but so too did some unexpected guests...