A BROMSGROVE veteran saw the fifth monarch in his lifetime announced when he attended the town’s Proclamation of King Charles III at Sanders Park on Sunday.
James Bent, who is 94, saluted and joined the crowds to sing ‘God Save the King’ during the ceremony performed by Bromsgrove District Council Chairman, Coun Rod Laight.
His daughter Sally Findon said: “We took him down in his wheelchair to witness the historic event.”
The five monarchs in James’ life before Charles III were George V (1910 to 1936), Edward VIII who was king from January 1936 to December that year, when he abdicated – he was never crowned, George VI (1936 to 1952) and Queen Elizabeth II (1952 to 2022).
Sally added: “He lived in Claines and remembers watching the processions through Worcester following the coronation of George VI and taking part in the celebrations in Crowle when Elizabeth II was crowned.”
James was in the Sea Cadets and when he was 14 remembers carrying out drills at Madresfield Court in Malvern – there was a secret plan which came to light after the war that Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were due to be evacuated there should the need arise after Hitler’s invasion.
And those were not James’ only connections to the Royal Family. He was also in the Navy and was ‘Batman’ – personally assigned servant – to ‘Prince Philip of Greece’ who became the Duke of Edinburgh and The Late Queen’s husband of 73 years.
During his time in service, from 1945 to 1949, he was based at Pwllheli in Wales, as after the war Butlin’s holiday camps were used as naval bases, and in Wiltshire.
In 1948, James worked as a ‘sick bay attendant’ which helped shape his future career.
Post his national service, he worked dispensing for Boots the chemist in Worcester and moved to the Bromsgrove branch when he rented a cottage from Lt Col Reginald Keble Morcom who owned the Clock House in Fockbury.
Later he became a crop specialist with Boots and went onto open his own business.
Sally added: “We’ve still got his kit bag and all his documents from the time, including a letter from The Queen’s Lady in Waiting relating to his service in the navy.”
