SPECIALLY minted coins were handed over from the Queen to a 91-year-old Whaddon resident at Windsor Castle on Thursday.

David Tucker, of Whaddon Lane, and his wife Barbara enjoyed an unforgettable day after receiving the gifts at the annual Maundy service.

Every year, a number of men and women equal to the monarch’s age receive Maundy money from the Queen at a service on Maundy Thursday, so 92 men and 92 women have been invited to this year’s service from across Britain.

Mr Tucker was nominated by the Bishop of Salisbury for being the church warden in Whaddon for half a century.

“You’re excited about it and want to make an occasion of it,” he said. “It was fantastic. I will never forget it.”

“The Queen greeted David and he said, “Thank you your majesty,” said Mrs Tucker.

“We were in St George’s Chapel and it was lovely. David is exactly two years younger than the Queen.”

David is still an active arable farmer, and previously also kept pigs and poultry, as well as being involved in the National Farmers Union and – a long time ago – being chairman of the local Young Farmers’ Club.

“I took over from my father as churchwarden fifty years ago. I’ve spent all my life in Whaddon and I’ve been married for seventy years,” he said.

“At one time we were the last cheesemakers in Wiltshire. We made eight sixty-pound cheddar cheeses every day.”