A PENSIONER from Bolton who carried the coffin of King George VI and subsequently became a friend of the Queen Mother has spoken of his sadness at her death.

John Schofield visited the Queen Mum on a number of occasions after the King's funeral in 1952.

On a recent trip to Windsor Castle, for a gathering of the Royal Victorian Order, he was ushered into a room for a one-to-one meeting with her.

The 72-year-old, of Doncaster Close, Little Lever, said the Queen Mother was "ordinary but regal" and said he was "sad at never being able to see her again."

Mr Schofield's friendship with the Queen Mother started when he was on National Service in 1952 and was picked as one of eight pallbearers. He was stationed in Windsor at the time with the First Battalion Grenadier Guards.

He was handed a photograph of the funeral signed by the King's wife which read: 'Elizabeth R The Queen Mother'.

In 1995, the Royal held her first Royal Victorian Order gathering and Mr Schofield was reunited with her again for the first time in 43 years.

He said: "I reminded her of the first time we met in 1952 and we had a good chat. She made me feel completely at ease. When I saw her again in 1999, we had another friendly chat.

"The Queen Mum was a perfectly ordinary person with an outstanding regal manner. She had a special aura which made you feel comfortable."

Mr Schofield, who is married to Edith, was awarded the Royal Victorian medal by The Queen at an investiture in Buckingham Palace in 1952.

He added: "It was a privilege to have met the Queen Mother. She will be sorely missed."