A representative from a Holbeach group is heading to Buckingham Palace this week for a royal engagement.
June Jay will be representing the Holbeach branch of the Royal Observer Corps Organisation at a garden party being hosted by Princess Anne on Friday.
These units were initially set up during World War Two to track aircraft, but were also responsible for underground points in case of a nuclear war until the end of the ‘Cold War’ in 1991.
June joined the Observer Corps in 1968 and spent 16 years with the service when it was almost solely made up of volunteers.
Her husband Peter was a seaborn observer involved in D-Day, the 80th anniversary of which is on June 6.
“Peter was part of the 796 Observer Corps formed because the Americans were shooting down too many of our planes,” June said. “Peter was on the Liberty ship off Normandy for D-Day and worked with the gunners to tell them which was British.
“I think it was so successful no more planes were shot down after that.”
Peter, who died 27 years ago aged 71, later joined the RAF before returning to the Observer Corps where he was a member for around 40 years.
Former members of the Holbeach Royal Observer Corps Association and their relatives still meet regularly, including one at The Thatched Cottage in Sutterton recently.
To mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day the Not Forgotten club is putting on a garden party at Buckingham Palace.
June (88) is one of four lucky enough to be chosen to represent the Royal Observer Corps nationally at the event on Friday.
She believes she’s the last surviving person who was married to one of the seaborn observers.
“I feel very proud and privileged that I’m going,” said June. “I think Peter would be very proud too.”
June Jay
