TWO former members of the armed forces have been on hand for an historic moment.

Simon McGlinchey, ex-Royal Navy, and Iain Maddox, former Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, travelled to London for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Trooping the Colour.

The members of Dunbar Royal British Legion were sitting in the north stand to see the royal party on horseback and in carriages, plus various household cavalry and guards regiments troop by close enough to take lots of photographs to show friends and family.

Following the parade, the Queen then came out on the balcony to greet a welcoming crowd, take the salute and watch a spectacular flypast by the Royal Air Force which included the Battle of Britain flight and squadrons of Typhoons.

Reflecting afterwards on their experience over cold drinks at the ex-armed services Union Jack Club, Simon said: “I’m glad I applied for a ticket, it was a very special occasion.”

Iain added: “A number of people asked me how I managed to get a ticket and all I did was click on the link and enter my name.

“It was worth getting a sunburned nose for!”