David Bosworth

A former bodyguard to Queen Elizabeth II and Crown Jewels guardsman from Market Rasen has expressed his privilege at serving Her Majesty.

Keith Hanson, a Queen’s Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard from 2003 to 2020, told BBC Look North: “I’d seen many who were completely in awe, who froze, but once they’d actually spoken to her she immediately got them on her side and their actual experience was much greater, because of her personality.”

Keith, who was also Chief Exhibitor of the Crown Jewels from 2000-2017, said his abiding memory of Queen Elizabeth II was: “actually the great pleasure of meeting her, having a one-to-one, albeit short conversation – but the warmth she expressed, and the interest – you felt she was interested in you particularly as a person. That I will never forget.”

Keith said people would freeze upon first meeting the Queen, but she “immediately got them on her side” with her “warm” personality. | Photo: BBC News

Keith talked to BBC Look North’s Peter Levy. | Screenshot: BBC Look North/BBC News Hub

Scunthorpe and North Lincolnshire are fondly remembering when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited a mosque in the town during the tension-filled months following the September 11 attacks.

It was 20 years ago, on July 31 2002, when Queen Elizabeth spoke to members of the Pakistan Social and Cultural Islamic Centre, and memories of that day are still strong.

Immi Juwaid, from the Islamic Centre Scunthorpe told BBC Look North: “Seven or eight months earlier 9/11 had happened and tensions were very high in North Lincolnshire.”

“There was a lot of backlash going and we felt very isolated and the Queen’s visit helped relations and we are forever in debt to her.”

Kass Jawaid’s grandad invited the Queen all that time ago and Kass said his grandad always counted the visit as being “one of his greatest achievements.”

The Queen’s arrival at the mosque prompted a very warm welcome from Scunthorpe locals. | Screenshot: BBC Look North/BBC News Hub

The Queen made history when she visited the Islamic Centre mosque in Scunthorpe. | Screenshot: BBC Look North/BBC News Hub

Immi Juwaid spoke to BBC Look North to say that the Queen’s visit improved relations in the town and that they are “forever in debt to her”. | Screenshot: BBC Look North/BBC News Hub

Kass Jawaid’s grandfather was responsible for inviting the Queen to Scunthorpe and was forever proud she had accepted. | Screenshot: BBC Look North/BBC News Hub

A history-defining moment that had a huge impact on the muslim community not just in North Lincolnshire but further afield. | Screenshot: BBC Look North/BBC News Hub

A photo forever capturing the jubilation of the Queen’s visit. | Screenshot: BBC Look North/BBC News Hub