A RETIRED Army Colonel has recounted his meetings with the Queen and recalls her ‘lovely smile’.

Col Max Embury, 97, who lives in Ipplepen, spoke to the Mid-Devon Advertiser ahead of her Platinum Jubilee.

The colonel was in charge of the guard of honour when the Queen, who had only acceded the throne a few months previously on the death of her father King George VI, paid a visit to Newton Abbot.

The event took place on July 2 1952 when Col Em bury, who was later awarded both the ME and OBE, was asked to escort the new Queen on the red carpet as she alighted the train and to Courtenay Park where 150 cadets from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force were assembled.

He recalled: ‘I invited her to inspect the guard of honour and I think this would have been one of her first public engagements as Queen.’

He was accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of Devon and the then chairman of Newton Abbot council.

Training for the cadets had been going on for six months before the event which included marching from the barracks through Newton Abbot to Courtenay Park.

Col Embury said the cadets were called to attention before presenting their arms.

He said: ‘The Queen said she would inspect the cadets and afterwards asked me to commend them for the quality of their attendance, movement and smartness.’

At the time Col Embury held the rank of Major having joined the forces as a teenager.

During the war, he had seen the then Princess Elizabeth when she joined the ATS.

He was stationed at Windsor at the time which was the headquarters of the Household Cavalry and recalls seeing her at mess dances, playing tennis and at PT (physical training) exercises.

After being in charge of the guard at Newton Abbot in 1952, Col Embury said she had lunch at the Queen’s Hotel before visiting a country show at Stover Park.

Col Embury said: ‘I am a Royalist and the Queen is a lovely lady and extremely charming.

‘I first knew her as a Princess.

‘She always has a lovely smile, is very friendly when you speak to her although you have to wait for her to talk to you.

‘She’s just delightful, always has lots of information and is very well briefed.’

He also received the MBE from Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace and later the OBE.

He had also met the Queen and Prince Philip when they visited Plymouth on the Royal Yacht Britannia as well as being invited to attend a number of Buckingham Palace garden parties.