Bridgwater Jubilee Pageant dancer ‘proud’ to join London celebrations

Sue Duddridge danced in front of the cart that joined the pageant parade to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee last week.

Sue previously said the Jubilee had always been “a family affair” for her family since her dad, David Hodge, was one of the soldiers marching on Coronation Day in 1953.

She was part of the pageant parade with her daughter Christie and her husband Barry, who helped build the cart that travelled to London.

She said: “It was such a privilege to do it, it was absolutely out of this world. The atmosphere was great, everybody was buzzing, it was brilliant.”

She admitted she felt “nervous” but once the parade started she realised she was finally taking part in something she had been “tirelessly” preparing for.

Sue said: “I was in front of the cart and I was in a 60s dress while my daughter was in a 50s dress.

“When we were in the parade waiting to go there were other people and we were waiting for other buses.

“We were waiting and waiting and we got nervous but suddenly we went and when we were coming down the Big Ben I thought ‘we are doing it now. I am doing what I was preparing’. It was a proud moment.

Sue Duddridge in London

“We shared the experience, all three of us. We all worked tirelessly, and my husband put his mark on the cart too.”

Sue also said the ceremony made her think about her dad.

David Hodge was part of the Somerset Infantry. He was among the soldiers marching during the Queen’s coronation in 1953.

Being part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations made her think of her dad “all day”.

Sue said: “When I was there my dad was on my mind and I was hoping he was looking down on me and I hope I made him proud. I thought about him all day.”