Britains longest serving mechanic passes away.

[Dave455]

I realise that the majority of the forums readers are not in the U.K. I suspect however, that news of Her Majesty The Queen’s passing, has now reached most corners of the globe.

What may be less known, is that as Princess Elizabeth, she served in the British forces, as both an ambulance driver, and depot mechanic.

Over the next few days there will no doubt be many stories and tributes, but I always liked the (absolutely true) story of the motorist who broke down on a Scottish moor. He was most surprised that the first person who turned up was Her Majesty The Queen, and even more shocked when she started fixing the problem for him!

She was definitely one of us. Longest serving? Well, that too, since her life has was one of almost continuous service to her country, from her enlistment in the Auxiliary Territorial Service in 1945, till today.

We’ll miss you Ma’am.


Mind you, despite being royalty, she had to do that plug change with a fairly crappy box spanner!

 

[Professional Tool User]

Calling QE II Britain's longest serving mechanic is kind of stretching it. She didn't have mechanic as an official job title outside of her military service years though she could obviously fix her Land Rover if it broke down on Sandringham. I honestly find the special monarch privileges/laws like not needing a drivers license or passport because they are issued in her name to be more interesting facts.

 

[Lassen Forge]

I disagree, as all of us here can attest, once you've tightened a head bolt, rebuilt a transmission or changed a clutch plate, or greased a bearing, you're part of the initiated. Including her Majesty.

She was reigning monarch since before I was born, and a year after my other half was. She oversaw the dissolution of THE Empire... and (well, to me, at least) that's kind of sad.

As Dave said... and I like the way you put that, sir... "We'll miss you, Ma'am".

 

[kbuhagiar]

I spent two years of my childhood living in the British Empire (Malta) and have never known any other reigning monarch.
We'll miss you Ma'am.

 

[whateg01]

I've read several posts here and elsewhere. Some of them do turn quite negative but without getting too political, what was her role in the dissolution of the empire? I know it happened, but was that due to or in spite of the queen's policies and efforts?

 

[mike93lx]

I've read several posts here and elsewhere. Some of them do turn quite negative but without getting too political, what was her role in the dissolution of the empire? I know it happened, but was that due to or in spite of the queen's policies and efforts?

Sounds like research to do outside this forum

 

[scooby074]

I always thought the Queen was "honest". As humble as royality can be I suppose. Her efforts during the war sealed the deal in my eyes. How she drove herself around until the end. She was a mechanic which is about as far from Regal as you can get. She seemed so genuine. She's always had a soft spot for Canada as well, which is nice. She was literally an irreplaceable Icon . RIP

 

[The Cobbler]

this thread is a duplicate of another thread re the Queen's passing . for more reading or posting, please see this thread https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/the-queen-died-96-yrs-old.503472/page-2#post-9752943