Vic Merry meets the Queens.

On Thursday 6 December Vic Merry, longstanding tenant in Cornwell Court, was invited to attend the Commissioning Ceremony of HMS Queen Elizabeth, the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carrier.

Vic had previously served in the last HMS Queen Elizabeth, a modernised WW1 battleship, in 1941, as a Boy Seaman.

He was invited by the ship’s captain, Jerry Kyd, and was accompanied by his life-long ‘oppo’ Len Chivers, who also served onboard the HMS Queen Elizabeth in 1941.

The two veterans had front row seats for the ceremony and were presented to HM the Queen. They were happy to recount their stories to her, of their time onboard the last ship and their time with her husband, Prince Philip, in the Mediterranean Fleet.

Whilst onboard they were treated as true VIPs and had the opportunity to catch up with previous First Sea Lords and the current Second Sea Lord.

Vic was also able to present the ship with the menu card and Order of Service for Christmas Day 1941, which has now been framed and takes pride of place onboard the new HMS Queen Elizabeth.