Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!

THE esteem and fondness in which Queen Elizabeth II was held was summed up perfectly in the summer when people across Moray celebrated her Platinum Jubilee.

And none more so than senior citizens in Lossiemouth who came together for a special tea party to mark her 70 years on the throne.

The organiser of that special afternoon of memories and conversation for around 140 local residents, all over 70-years-old, was Councillor James Allan.

He said The Queen was special and meant a lot to all of those who attended the event in the summer.

He said: "Her Majesty the Queen was a wonderful lady, who gave her all for her country working tirelessly right until the end.

"She was an amazing lady and will be remembered for her outstanding commitment and dedication to her country and the Commonwealth."

And Cllr Allan, also a local Boys' Brigade leader, addded: "She was an active Patron to the Boys' Brigade and many boys in Moray and all over the UK gained her special Queen's Award the highest award in the Boys' Brigade.

"She will be sadly missed."

The senior citizens remembered lots about the Queen and she was very special to them.Here we reflect on what some of them said that day.

Sylvia Riddell (74) was too young to remember the coronation but she was a big fan of the Queen throughout her life.

"I think she is brilliant and she has done a lot for the country. It is remarkable and we will never see this again.

"I used to work as a steward at RAF Kinloss and I served her once when she visited with Prince Philip."

Sylvia's husband Abbie (80), from Aberdeen originally, joined the RAF as a boy and served from 1958-1997, as an aircraft technician and a bus diver. His first posting was to RAF Kinloss in 1960.

"I have served her (the Queen) all my life and it will be a sad day for this country – north, east, south and west – when she goes. It is a big thing for her to reach 70 years."

Friends Margie Cameron (80) and Frances Burton (82) were dressed in red, white and blue and proudly waving their Union flags.

Margie said: "I remember watching the coronation on a black and white TV and I just loved it. She is so lovely and I don't know anyone who doesn't like the Queen."

Frances added: "I think she is marvellous. I remember getting a red pencil with a crown on it at school for her coronation."

May McLeod (83) said of the Queen: "She has done exceptionally well over the years for the country. It is good that we are celebrating the jubilee as we will never see this again."

Eleanor Simpson (93) said the Queen had done her job very well.

"I watched the coronation at my granny's house in Kineddar Street and I remember the square having lots of flags.

"She is beautiful and so lovely. She has done her job very well.

"I have seen her but never met her, Even though she is regal, she always seems so modest at the same time."

---

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.

---