When uniformed soldiers brandishing rifles wave you down from the side of a highway, you would likely feel compelled to stop and let them hitch a ride.
This was the logic of Colonel Noel Ingle, who, on a summer day in 1954, had to use some quick thinking to keep The Queen’s visit to New Zealand on schedule.
The daughter of Colonel Ingle, Newport resident Joanne Walker showed Star Weekly a number of pieces from her father’s time as the movement officer for The Queen’s six-week visit to New Zealand in 1953-54.
Ms Walker still has an ornate blue book of arrangements, which details everyone who worked on The Queen’s visit to New Zealand and the entire schedule of the visit.
However, even the best laid plans go awry.
Ms Walker recounted the story of a transport strike on January 11, 1954 preventing the Royal Guard of Honour from getting on a bus from Trentham to Parliament House in Wellington, it was Colonel Ingle’s responsibility to get them there on time.
She said it was her father’s responsibility to get them to Wellington on time, so he told them to walk down onto the highway and hitchhike.
Ms Walker said she was proud of her fathers “distinguished” military career, which included receiving an Order of the British Empire medal.
Liam McNally
