KIMBOLTON School pupil was one of just 26 specially selected cadets from across the UK to meet Her Majesty The Queen. Head boy Barnaby Spink was one of two cadets from the East of England who went to Buckingham Palace on February 17 for the launch of Cade

KIMBOLTON School pupil was one of just 26 specially selected cadets from across the UK to meet Her Majesty The Queen.

Head boy Barnaby Spink was one of two cadets from the East of England who went to Buckingham Palace on February 17 for the launch of Cadet Movement's 150th anniversary.

The Queen is patron of Cadet150, a programme of more than 150 events to take place across the cadet movement this year.

As well as the reception at the palace, the cadets visited Downing Street, the Ministry of Defence and Lancaster House.

Barnaby, from Hartford, said: "It was a real honour to meet the Queen and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh. The Queen asked me about Kimbolton School's cadets and its plans to celebrate Cadet150."

He added: "I was nervous to meet the Queen but she put me at such ease and seemed generally interested in what I had to say. The day as a whole was amazing."

The 18-year-old was nominated for the honour by Kimbolton School for his outstanding commitment to the cadets.

A school spokesman said: "Over the last four years he has displayed exemplary powers of leadership, an unwavering commitment to the Combined Cadet Force and yet an unusual modesty in his achievements."

Last month beaver scout from 1st Bury and Upwood Beaver Scouts, Freedom Scott Tansley, seven met the Queen for the second time. The scout also received a letter from her and presented her with his own homemade remembrance poppy. Freedom Scott, who lives at Wistow Fen, first met the Queen when his parents Peg and Dennis took him to Norfolk to hear the Christmas morning service on the Sandringham estate. After the service children were allowed to present the Queen with flowers and Freedom Scott gave her a poem and a letter about the sacrifices made by British troops and their families.

Last month his parents took him back to Norfolk to meet the Queen a second time. Freedom Scott presented Her Majesty with a bouquet of flowers and a red tissue poppy he had made with the Beaver Scouts. He shared his story of meeting the Queen at a ceremony where he received the Chief Scout's Bronze Award, which is the highest achievement for a beaver scout.