College Student on Royal parade
Posted on Monday 29 January 2007
Daniel Gregory will play major role in Household Cavalry Pageant on 12 June 2007
College Student rides as a member of the Heavy Camel Corps
Daniel Gregory, 16, of Farnborough, a first year student at Farnborough Sixth Form College, has a special engagement in June – in partnership with Her Majesty the Queen, Michael Portillo, Stephen Fry, Dame Judi Dench and - a camel.
The Queen is due to open the new Household Cavalry Museum on Horse Guards Parade and to mark the event there will be the re-enactment of a number of historical scenes. The highlight will be an illustration of how men of the Heavy Camel Regiment in 1884 would have been used in action in the Relief of Gordon, and Daniel will take the lead role. Daniel, an experienced horseman and Cameleer, has been selected to ride Lady Chichester’s camel, Therese, in the re-enactment.
Daniel said, “Both for the Troop and on a personal level, it is an honour to be asked to take part in such a prestigious event!”
Daniel first became interested in the historical aspects of military life when, at the age of 11, he saw a re-enactment of the American Civil War at Frimley Lodge. Since then, he has been hooked and has participated in a number of events, including being a herald on horseback at the Knights’ Tournament Jousting event, and participating in the 17th Lancers Display Troop.
He is one of England’s few experienced cameleers and has ridden camels in various events around the country, including the National Army Museum’s re-enactment of the activities of the First World War Imperial Camel Corps.
He said, “At Horseguards Parade I will canter on the Camel around the arena, dismount and fire the rifle, just as would have happened over 100 years ago.” Michael Portillo will provide the commentary with the recorded voices of Stephen Fry as King George III and Dame Judi Dench as Queen Victoria.
The event will also recreate the Coronation Procession of King Charles II and the 50-yard cavalry charge that preceded the capture of the French Eagle by The Royal Dragoons at Waterloo, neither of which have been staged before.
College Principal, Dr John Guy, said, “I am extremely proud that Daniel has landed such a key role in the royal celebrations. The variety of activities and experiences of our students never fails to astonish me but I think Daniel if our very first cameleer!”
