WHAT did one 74-year-old say to the other? It may sound like the first line of a joke, but the scenario played out in real life at Windsor Castle this week.
Jim Hopley made the trip to the royal residence to receive the MBE he was awarded in the New Year Honours earlier this year for services to the community from King Charles III.
It is believed Mr Hopley, who was accompanied by his wife Rachelle, was the first Islander to receive an honour from the monarch, who acceded to the throne in September following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
With around 100 people having honours bestowed at the investiture, there was only limited time to chat, but the two men soon found they had at least one thing in common.
Mr Hopley said: ‘The King had obviously been told where I was from, as he asked a couple of questions about Jersey, and whether I was still actively involved.
‘I said that my wife was trying to get me to slow down, as I was going to be 75 next birthday, and he laughed at that.’
The honorary chair of both Jersey National Park and Genuine Jersey – which promotes local products – has also carried out voluntary work with organisations including the Island’s Cheshire Home and the Jersey Disability Partnership, and is the older of the two men. He will be 75 in April, while the King celebrated his 74th birthday earlier this month.
‘Give HRH his due, he had a lot of people to see, and I was towards the end of the line, but he was chatty and very pleasant,’ Mr Hopley added. ‘It was really well organised and it was good to meet some of the other people receiving their honours.’
Mr Hopley retired in 2011 from the position of chief executive of the Channel Islands Co-operative Society after a 40-year career in retailing.
