Queen’s Platinum Jubilee ‘a family affair’ for Bridgwater family

Sue Duddridge’s family always had close links to the Jubilee as Sue’s father, David Hodge, who was in the Somerset Infantry, was among the soldiers marching during the Queen’s coronation in 1953.
Mr Hodge is here pictured second from the left

Sue, from Bridgwater, will be one of the 110 dancers in front of the Jubilee cart and said her husband Barry, and her daughter Christie, who will be one of the dancers too, are helping prepare the pageant cart that will take part in the celebrations next month.

She said: “I’m going to be one of 110 dancers dancing in front of the Jubilee cart. My husband has been helping build it and my daughter was involved too. It’s a bit of a family affair and I’m looking forward to it.

“My dad was in the Somerset Infantry. He was in service at the time of the coronation in 1953.

“He was one of the 10 soldiers marching. They were only 10 because they were fighting at the time.

“He was very proud and honoured to do that.

“I am very nervous but very proud and honoured and I feel privileged to be able to walk in my father’s footsteps, so to speak.

“I hope the weather will be better because apparently it was pouring it down back in 1953.”
 

Mr Hodge was marching during the Queen's Coronation in 1953. He is pictured here second from the left

Sue, who works at Bridgwater and Taunton College, explained how since then the family did not take part in Jubilee ceremonies but were involved in celebrations and she remembers the street parties in 1977 marking the Queen’s Silver Jubilee.

She also said she has been involved in carnivals since 1983 as she is a member of Newmarket Carnival Club.

Sue also said: “When everybody started talking about the pageant cart in Bridgwater I really wanted to be involved, not just for the carnival, but for my father. We will be honoured to follow in his footsteps as a family.”