The Little World

At the recent coronation of the British king we saw a fly-past by the RAF. Helicopters first, for some obscure reason, then the Red Arrows trailing multicoloured smoke, then a Royal anthem, and then nothing…

The RAF may have been booked elsewhere for the day.

At least the Royal Navy did them proud. As the King and Queen stooged about the balcony and the crowds crowded, the RN conducted a sail-past on the Thames.

Unseen…as they should be…the four nuclear armed and powered submarines from Scotland passed in review up and then down the Thames. Crews on board stood to attention as they passed Westminster and bosun’s pipes were tweeted. Rum was passed around it as the vessels cleared Tower bridge on the way downriver and only one sub grounded in the lower Thames. It will be pried loose in a month.

Note: It was bad weather that did it. The MoD had some 60 aircraft lined up for a magnificent show but prudently sent them back to base when the overcast lowered. Can’t fault public safety.