A special edition of Progress  was issued to commemorate the visit of HM the Queen to HQ in Norwich on 30 April 1986. A letter from William Heseltine (on HM’s staff) to Controller WJ Sharp contained the words ‘it is not altogether easy to make a visit to a rather unromantic office a pleasurable and exciting event.’ I think that there are a few people out there who found plenty of romance in the office, but we don’t want a barrage of solicitors’ letters so no names.

I remember a press reporter asking John Gardiner the usual daft question ‘Why do you think the Queen spoke to you?’ John came back with ‘Perhaps she likes ugly men.’ It didn’t make the papers.