Queen’s personal honours to 39

Press, 17 June 1986, Page 19

Queen’s personal honours to 39

NZPA-PA London The man who has been winding up the clocks at Buckingham Palace for 40 years, a “daily” in the Queen Mother’s household, and the holder of the historic rank of Yeoman Bed-Goer, are among the 39 recipients of personal honours from the Queen.

The honours, the Royal Victorian Order, are in the gift of the Queen. The Palace clockman, Mr Michael Potter, who retired earlier this year, receives the Royal Victorian Medal (Silver), as does Miss Amy Lowe, one of the daily cleaning women at Clarence House.

The Yeoman Bed-Goer, Mr Frank Lobley, who has also been awarded the Royal Victorian Medal, holds a rank dating back

500 years. When the bodyguard of the Yeoman of the Guard was formed by Henry VII In 1485, the then Yeoman Bed-Goer had the job of making and examining the sovereign’s bed. Although the task is now defunct, the description remains in the ranks of the Yeoman. Other recipients of the medal include Mr Eric Williams, the head chauffeur in the Royal Mews, Mrs June Williams, a dairymaid at the Royal dairy, Windsor, and Police Sergeant John Harding, of the Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Squad. Mr Geoffrey de Bellaigue, Surveyor of the Queen’s Works of Art since September 1972, has been made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.

Captain the Honourable Edward Beaumont, Clerk of the Course and Secretary to the Ascot Authority, and Mr George Pratt, chairman of the Prince Trust, the charity set up by the Prince of Wales to help young people, have been made Companions of the Order.

The Marquess of Donegal, former Standard Bearer of The Queen’s Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, Captain John Clarke, commander of the Royal Yacht Britannia, and Mr Christopher Robinson, Master of Music at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, have been made Lieutenants of the Order.

Mr Cecil Davis, Chief Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London, is among eight new Members of the Order.