A SOLDIER who for the last eight years has orchestrated the spectacular Trooping The Colour ceremony at Buckingham Palace has been honoured by The Queen.

Sergeant Major David Lochrie, from Chester-le-Street, is responsible for planning and delivering the annual ceremony to mark Her Majesty’s birthday which attracts thousands of spectators from around the world.

This week the father-of-two was invited to the Palace to be presented by Her Majesty with his MBE, announced in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June.

Sergeant Major Lochrie plans all the ceremonial events of the Household Division, culminating in the annual showpiece in June, and also planned the ceremonial support for the Diamond Jubilee, The Olympic Games and the funeral of Baroness Thatcher.

Meticulous planning for the Trooping The Colour ceremony starts in February to ensure every soldier on parade, or supporting it, knows what they are doing and when they are doing it. His planning and delivery includes all the orders for every rehearsal.

Sergeant Major Lochrie has been in this job for eight years and recently received, for the second time, the rare permission to continue in the daunting role. He is one of only two Army Infantry warrant officers allowed to stay in post for more than three years.

Lieutenant Colonel Simon Soskin, Brigade Major for the Household Division, said: “The reason for this is that he is just indispensable.

“He has a collection of skills, ceremonial knowledge, and spectacular administrative skills that are unmatched anywhere.

“This award is long overdue and is a single recognition of an excellent few years’ work where Sergeant Major Lochrie has on many occasions gone far beyond his normal duties to ensure state ceremonial is delivered perfectly”.