By Mal Butler
A Royal Navy sailor, from Brighstone, has been honoured by King Charles, after being one of 142 sailors to pull the gun carriage from Westminster Abbey, and later on to Wellington Arch, at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral.
Angus Bellamy, 20, was awarded the Royal Victorian Medal (RVM) at a ceremony at Windsor Castle. He said: “I was proud to be part of the occasion and proud to be part of history; it was an immense ceremony.”
Angus is based in Plymouth, and attended Christ the King College, Newport. He was accompanied to the ceremony by his mother, Naomi, and got his break by chance. He added: “It was just a random pick! There were members of the Royal Navy from all over the country and I was very lucky to have my name drawn out.
“Then, to be introduced to the King, was another fantastic experience. He had a little chat with every one of us. He shook all of our hands before presenting our medals. It’s been an incredible last few months.”
Naomi said: “The ceremony was an amazing day and we’re all extremely proud of Angus.”
The RVM is a decoration established by Queen Victoria in April 1896. A part of the Royal Victorian Order, it is a reward for personal service to the Sovereign or the royal family, and is the personal gift of the sovereign.
The Royal Navy has previously pulled the carriage for the state funerals of four monarchs – Queen Victoria, Edward VII, George V, and George VI, the Queen’s first prime minister, Winston Churchill and the ceremonial funeral of former Governor-General of India, Lord Louis Mountbatten.
Isle of Wight Observer