Thousands at '˜momentous day' for village

The chairman of the Bushmills Branch of the Royal British Legion described the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's visit to the village as 'a momentous day.'
Visit of HRH The Queen and Prince Phillip to Bushmills Village. The Irish Guards formed a Guard of Honour as her Majesty Unveiled a Statue of Robert Quigg, VC. Photo by Simon Graham/Harrison PhotographyVisit of HRH The Queen and Prince Phillip to Bushmills Village. The Irish Guards formed a Guard of Honour as her Majesty Unveiled a Statue of Robert Quigg, VC. Photo by Simon Graham/Harrison Photography
Visit of HRH The Queen and Prince Phillip to Bushmills Village. The Irish Guards formed a Guard of Honour as her Majesty Unveiled a Statue of Robert Quigg, VC. Photo by Simon Graham/Harrison Photography

Around 60 adult and youth members of the Branch were VIP guests as Her Majesty unveiled the Robert Quigg VC statue just before midday.

Thousands lined the streets of the village which was festooned with red, white and blue bunting and families waving tiny Union Jacks under grey skies.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It’s a momentous day for Bushmills paricularly with the uncertainty of the moment with Brexit,” Legion chairman Andy McGugan said.

Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Phillip in Bushmills Village where she attended an act of Rememberance and unveiled a statue of Robert Quigg, VC. Her Majesty the Queen meets members of Robert Quiggs family. Photo by SImon Graham/Harrison PhotographyHer Majesty the Queen and Prince Phillip in Bushmills Village where she attended an act of Rememberance and unveiled a statue of Robert Quigg, VC. Her Majesty the Queen meets members of Robert Quiggs family. Photo by SImon Graham/Harrison Photography
Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Phillip in Bushmills Village where she attended an act of Rememberance and unveiled a statue of Robert Quigg, VC. Her Majesty the Queen meets members of Robert Quiggs family. Photo by SImon Graham/Harrison Photography

“The Branch itself is going very well and also the Youth Section, members of which are here today.

“And I’m particularly proud of that because these young people will be here much, much longer than I will and they will be able to carry the stories and moments of today forward for many years to come.

“We are joined here by No10 Group members from Coleraine, Portrush, Portstewart, Ballymoney and Ballycastle and Bushmills and it’s very good to have them along. The sad thing is that numbers had to be limited.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Youth section is aged between 11 and 17 and the youngest member of the day was 11-year-old Alice Anderson, a P7 pupil at Ballytober Primary School.

Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Phillip in Bushmills Village where she attended an act of Rememberance and unveiled a statue of Robert Quigg, VC. Her Majesty the Queen meets members of Robert Quiggs family. Photo by SImon Graham/Harrison PhotographyHer Majesty the Queen and Prince Phillip in Bushmills Village where she attended an act of Rememberance and unveiled a statue of Robert Quigg, VC. Her Majesty the Queen meets members of Robert Quiggs family. Photo by SImon Graham/Harrison Photography
Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Phillip in Bushmills Village where she attended an act of Rememberance and unveiled a statue of Robert Quigg, VC. Her Majesty the Queen meets members of Robert Quiggs family. Photo by SImon Graham/Harrison Photography

Senior Youth Leader Pamela McLean from Bushmills looked after the group alongside her colleague Deborath Brogan.

“The young people here are just so excited to be here to see the Queen,” she said.

“It’s a great day - not just the children - but all of us have been so looking forward to it.”