JIM Stevenson, 94, of Clumber Place, Cleethorpes, is a retired police officer who served at the Queen's Coronation, the Queens Review and the Kings funeral.
In 2013, we will see the diamond anniversary of the Queen's Coronation, which took place on June 2, 1953.
Jim, who was a pupil at Welholme School, was selected on three occasions to serve a royal duty whilst with the Barnsley Borough Constabulary.
Although Jim is from Grimsby he was not allowed to join the local police force in 1939.
He said: "The force has changed so much since I left in 1964.
"I was working as an apprentice for a local building firm constructing the Queen's Hotel on Sea View Street, Cleethorpes, before I signed up for the police force.
"I was working on an apprentice wage of 10 shillings a month and saw the wage for a police officer was seven pounds a month and they also paid for lodgings.
"Back then you were not allowed to join your local force. They asked if I would go to Barnsley and I said yes.
"When I first started I was a police fire officer which meant if the fire brigade needed more men I would be picked up by the engine as it came past.
"This was before the National Fire Service was created."
Jim was chosen by his superiors to attend the momentous royal occasions.
He said: "I was very lucky to be chosen. My commanding officer clearly thought highly of me. It was quite an honour.
"I was stationed at Piccadilly Circus with four other officers from Barnsley for the Coronation. We worked as crowd control and watched the carriages and cars drive past with the dignitaries from around the world in the rain.
"I remember we arrived in London at about 8pm the day before and we were billeted in the basement of Woolwich Arsenal factory.
"We were up at 2am, given a boiled egg and ration pack, before getting straight onto the street. We had one 20-minute break to grab a cup of tea, get dry and warm up out of the rain until we stood down at 5pm. We then went straight to the train station and travelled back to Barnsley.
"That was a long day!
"The one person that really stood out to me was the Queen of Tonga. She was all dressed up, in a very fancy open carriage while it rained. She was very happy and smiling despite getting wet."
Jim also attended the King's funeral in 1952 where he marched with the coffin through the streets of London.
He stood to attention for the Queen again in 1954 for the Queen's Review of the police force in Hyde Park.
Jim retired as a sergeant in 1964 after 25 years and received three commendations for crime solving. He moved back to Grimsby and began working as a security guard for the Beachcomber in Cleethorpes before his retirement.
He said: "I really enjoyed the police force. But it has changed so much since my time nearly 50 years ago.
"There is so much the police do that the public don't realise, whether they are clearing up after car accidents, solving crimes or attending events. It was always a different job every day."
