Pictures of the Queen waving a green flag to signal her own train to depart at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway at Havenstreet made news headlines in May 2004.
Stuart Duddy, duty signalman that day, recalled: “A few days beforehand, guard Kim Chalkley asked the chairman, John Suggett, whether he should invite Her Majesty to wave the green flag to signal her own train to depart from Wootton.
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“The chairman’s response was unequivocal. He most certainly should not — but he did anyway! Cameras clicked and those photographs were beamed across the globe and made the national papers the following morning.”
Earlier this year, Stuart told the County Press: “A couple of hours or so before the Queen was due to arrive, a private secretary came into the box and asked a little about the role of a signalman."
"I briefly explained the job, the lever frame and the instruments. Then she asked if the Queen might be able to operate a lever.
“As any signalman working a mechanical signal box can attest, there is a certain ‘knack’ to pulling the levers, to avoid catching one’s fingers, putting one’s back out or having a lever fly back across the frame.
“I expressed my anxiety and, to demonstrate the cause of my concern, I pulled the lever which operates the signal furthest from the box. It was evident to the private secretary that pulling the lever wasn’t straightforward.
“Then, doing something that signalmen really shouldn’t do, I allowed the signal to return under the full force of gravity. The lever slammed back across to the quadrant at speed.
“No, I don’t think Her Majesty had better operate any levers,” was the private secretary’s verdict. Phew!”
Stuart’s nerves increased as the royal train hove into view. Soon, the Queen stepped onto the platform and was introduced to a young Sarah Tagart who presented a posy of flowers, before heading to the signal box.
“So there was me — in the tiny signal box — with our chief executive, our chairman, a lady-in-waiting, the lord lieutenant and the Queen — just the six of us,” Stuart recalled.
“The black-gloved hand was extended and we shook hands. She asked why the levers were different colours. I was able to explain the functions of the different coloured levers. She asked how long I had been volunteering at the railway and, in no time at all, she thanked me, turned and stepped outside.”
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Sarah Tagart was eight years old when she presented the posy to the Queen at the railway.
She said: “I remember it all starting a few weeks before the visit, when my mum and I were asked by the general manager, Hugh Boynton, if I would like to present Her Majesty with the bouquet of flowers, which I was very excited to do!
“Mum took me to what I thought at the time was a very posh dress shop to buy a new light purple dress with small flowers on.
“The day came and I remember the buzz of security staff around the site at Havenstreet with every little area being checked.
“I remember going over and over my words and actions, so I could not get them wrong.
“The station filled up with visitors and among them were my grandparents, family friends and my class from Godshill Primary School.
“My moment came: “Your Majesty, welcome to Havenstreet,” I said and I handed over the flowers and curtsied and on she walked.
“The day is one of those things that will stick in my head forever and although I’m in my mid-20s now, I still tell people: “I met the Queen.”
- Sarah’s dad, Chris Tagart, was also there for the Queen's visit.
He recalled: “The Queen asked me about my role and I explained that I had led the bid for the Heritage Lottery Fund grant for the building she was about to open. I have not washed my right hand since!
“Having been a volunteer with the steam railway since I was 15 — 50 years ago — it was one of the proudest days of my life.
“Later I was present in the workshop when the Queen performed the opening ceremony and talked to other volunteers.
“She asked Ken Boulton what he did for the railway and he replied: “I’m Father Christmas.”
“She moved on to John Price and having asked a similar question ,received the same reply.
“Her Majesty did not seem to phased by this response, but moved on to Elaine Price, asking the same question again, to which Elaine replied, “I’m Mrs Snowman.”
“Ken, John and Elaine were stalwarts of the railway’s popular Santa Specials, so these were not flippant answers, but what Her Majesty thought we’ll never know."
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