It's been billed as the nation's biggest ever birthday party.

From schoolchildren to war heroes, from Sydney to London, thousands are preparing to line up and pay tribute to the longest living member of the royal family.

The build-up, of course, is for the Queen Mother's 100th birthday.

And the burden of organising one of the events to celebrate the big day on August 4 has fallen on the shoulders of a Bradford man.

Fresh from action in Bosnia and Kosovo, Major John Petrie MBE hit the headlines last September when he smuggled 30 terrified East Timorese people out of their country to safety.

But on a visit to his home city this weekend, which was to include a guest appearance at his former school, Belle Vue, he was focussing on the birthday girl.

"It's all about the Queen Mother," he insists. "It's her day."

Major Petrie was chosen to act as project officer for the official pageant on July 19 after extended duty in East Timor meant his staff post at London headquarters had to be filled by another officer. But he says he was honoured to be invited to take part.

"She's absolutely incredible for her age," he said referring to his first meeting with her. "She's got a memory for detail second to none."

And despite input from Clarence House, he says organisers are trying to keep some of the details up their sleeves so she can be surprised on the day.

The pageant is one of three official celebrations in London, and the most public.

Taking place at Horse Guards at 5pm on the big day, the Queen Mother will be honoured by representatives from the 320 organisations of which she is patron, in addition to the large military contingent of which she is commander in chief.

They will be joined by the Royal Philarmonic Orchestra, pipe and drum bands and a 500-strong choir.

Other less obvious participants include a giant inflatable birthday cake filled with 100 children, Aberdeen Angus bulls, camels, a petal drop of one million rose petals, actor Sir John Mills and Corgis.

And surprisingly, the Queen has refused to attend claiming she does not wish to take the limelight away from her mother.

But the event has already caused a media storm amidst reported threats of violence from anarchists who daubed paint on pictures of the Royal Family during the May Day riots, and the alleged 'snubbing' of TV coverage by the BBC.

Major Petrie said: "We hope to have it live on TV but at the moment that hasn't been picked up.

"It's the nations' birthday party for the Queen Mother and you can't get a wider representation across the country than we've got."

He added he was saddened by the reports of possible violence in the paper.

"Irrespective of the threats, the security, as for any major event such as Trooping the Colour, will be high," he said.

A spokeman for the BBC refuted allegations that they had snubbed the event and said its celebrations would be focussing on August 4, with news coverage of the pageant.

e-mail: suzy.poole@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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