When theatre boss met the Queen on The Mersey Gateway

But not everyone is Andrew Curphey.

Back in June 2018, Andrew and his theatre company were commissioned by Halton Borough Council to stage a performance piece involving 10 children from 10 primary schools.

The reason had to be kept under wraps though.

“We had to keep it a massive secret and I wasn’t even allowed to tell the kids,” said Andrew.

“I knew it was for the Queen but the kids and parents couldn’t know.

“I had to just say it was a very special occasion and something that they wouldn’t want to miss out on.”

The Queen opening The Mersey Gateway

Andrew, whose theatre company is based in Widnes, Runcorn and Warrington, organised a performance piece based on all of the different crossings had over the Mersey from little boats to the Widnes-Runcorn Transporter Bridge, the Silver Jubilee Bridge and The Mersey Gateway.

It involved dance and physical theatre.

Following the piece, the children all bowed and Andrew was brought forward to meet the Queen.

The 36-year-old continued: “We were in a line and she got to me and the thing that I remember her saying was ‘oh it’s a windy day for it’ as everyone was getting blown everywhere.

“She just said it was lovely to see the children perform and she was really lovely.

“She had the time and the patience for me.

Schoolchildren gathered for the arrival of the Queen and Meghan

Andrew Curphey recalls meeting the Queen

“Meghan also shouted back ‘the kids did great by the way’.

“It was one of those ‘pinch me’ moments where a local lad in my town got to meet the Queen.

“You can never predict that these things are going to happen. It was an honour to be asked by the council to do this and for the children that I teach to represent the borough.”