Chelsea Pensioner gets to fire noonday gun
MORE than a decade after he first watched Guernsey's noonday gun being fired, Chelsea Pensioner John Honey was yesterday pulling the trigger.
Dressed in his impeccable and distinctive red uniform, the 73-year-old, pictured centre, volunteered to fire the gun at Castle Cornet as part of the Chelsea Pensioners' annual trip for the Liberation Day celebrations.
Eight fellow Chelsea veterans and a group of active Gurkhas joined the crowd of visitors to share the special moment with Mr Honey.
'Around 15 years ago I saw the noonday gun, but I never thought I would pull the trigger,' he said. 'I also heard it last year while I was here but did not see it. This is special.'
Mr Honey, who served for two years with the Royal Army Service Corps, said it was his fourth visit to the island, but only his second as a Chelsea Pensioner.
