A birthday at Buckingham Palace for 86 year-old Major Bill Springer

Company news

Jun 02, 2014

A retired Major, 86 year-old Bill Springer from Wickham Market, has enjoyed a special visit to Buckingham Palace the day after his birthday. 

Major Springer, who served in the Household Cavalry from 1946 to 1981, attended the Household Cavalry Standards Parade to watch his old regiment, The Blues and Royals, be presented with a new regimental flag by Her Majesty the Queen. The parade was followed by a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.

Bill was born in 1928 and for as long as he can remember he only ever wanted to be in the army, much to his father’s annoyance. Bill signed up to the infantry when he was 16 but, because of his height of 6 foot 3 inches, he was transferred to the Household Cavalry. In the late 50s Bill was made Master of the Hunt for the Queen mother’s pack of bloodhounds, before he started the Weser Vale Hunt Kennels, which he took over to Germany in 1971 and is still to this day one of the top Bloodhound Hunt Kennels in Europe.

Major Springer has been living at Care UK’s Lehmann House care home, off Chapel Lane in Wickham Market, for the past two years.

Mandy Holmes, a carer at Lehmann House, accompanied Major Springer to the Parade. She said: “Having worked at Lehmann House for 11 years I have met many colourful and interesting characters, but none like Bill. He is a wonderful man and has so many stories and fond memories to share of his Household Cavalry days, including going horse riding with the Queen and the Queen mother.

It was a great honour to accompany Bill to the parade and to the Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in the afternoon. It was a lovely, special day.”

Major Bill Springer said: “When I received the invitation I was very excited. I bought a new suit to wear with my regimental tie and braces, and I had my shoes polished like mirrors. I even took an umbrella in regimental colours, just in case!

It was a jolly good party and it was wonderful to see the horse guards present the new standards, it was an occasion I will never forget!”

For more information about Lehmann House and Care UK’s other Suffolk homes visit www.careuk.com/suffolk or call 0333 321 0956

Photo caption: Retired Major Bill Springer at the Buckingham Palace Garden Party following the Household Cavalry Standards Parade