Despite being 91 years of age he had two very vivid memories of the glamorous royal couple during their sojourn to New Zealand in the summer of 1953-54.
Mr Sprague recalled as a young man he had recently completed his compulsory military training at Burnham Military Camp near Christchurch.
"Everyone went through it at about 19, 20 years of age."
He still had his khaki uniform used during training.
"And we got word that we would be needed just to stand in front of the crowds [in Dunedin] when the limousine was coming through."
Police and regular soldiers also lined up along the way, he said.
"The crowds were just going crazy behind us, you know, it was just wonderful — a great, great occasion."
He was stationed in front of the former D.I.C. department store on the corner of Princes St and the Octagon, as the royal limousine passed by heading towards a function at the Dunedin Town Hall.
"I got a really good look because the carriage slowed right down."
The royal couple were relaxed and waving at the crowd.
"They just had this wonderful grin on their faces and waving left and right, just natural, it was just fabulous."
During the same tour the Queen was greeted by 12,000 children in Forbury Park.
Crowds gathered wherever she appeared.
But for a brief moment, Mr Sprague and a friend had the royal couple all to themselves.
One night during the tour, the Queen and Prince Philip were scheduled to visit the former Exhibition Art Gallery in Logan Park.
Mr Sprague was training with another athlete, John Ridell, in Logan Park.
"I used to do a lot of athletics.
"We were the only two there, Logan Park was deserted, not another person in sight."
He saw the royal limousine heading towards the old art gallery.
"So we thought we would wait until they came back out again."
Not long after, the pair saw the car pull away from the art gallery.
"And so we went out and stood [by the road], and the chauffer would have seen the two of us, and he slowed the car right down."
He said it felt almost like they had their own personal acknowledgement from the royal couple.
"We grinned and we waved and we wished them well, it was just something special."
Mr Sprague was a resident at Radius Fulton, an aged care centre in Caversham, and during the last week all the talk had been about the Queen.
"Over the dining tables at lunch hour there has been nothing but the Queen’s departure.
"The Queen was a remarkable lady, absolutely," Mr Sprague said.
Dunedin commemorations for Queen
BRENDA.HARWOOD
@thestar.co.nz
As mourners in their thousands queue to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, lying in state at Westminster Hall in London, preparations are under way to commemorate her death here in New Zealand and the ascension of King Charles III to the throne.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced a one-off public holiday — to be known as Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day — to be held on Monday, September 26.
A televised state memorial service will be held in the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul
on the same day.
‘‘As New Zealand’s Queen and much loved Sovereign for over
70 years, it is appropriate that we mark her life of dedicated public service with a State memorial service and a one-off public holiday,’’ Ms Ardern said on Monday.
In Dunedin, condolence books are available for the public to sign at Dunedin City Library and the Civic Centre reception.
Flags on Dunedin’s civic buildings, and atop businesses across the city, are flying at half-mast to mark the death of the Queen.
Dunedin Mayor Aaron Hawkins has offered the city’s deepest sympathies to Her Majesty’s family, and to her loyal subjects across the Commonwealth, saying the late Queen had been the ‘‘only head
of state many of us have ever known’’.
A book of condolence is also open in Dunedin’s own St Paul’s Cathedral during the official period of mourning.
Dean of St Paul’s The Very Reverend Dr Tony Curtis gave thanks for Her Majesty’s lifetime of faithful service to the church and Commonwealth, ‘‘during which she has been an extraordinary figure of inspiration to billions of people all around the world’’.
St Paul’s Cathedral will host a formal Civic Memorial service for Her Late Majesty the Queen on Sunday, October 2, at 4pm, attended by the mayor and deputy mayor, and representatives of the city’s faith
traditions. Further details will follow.
University of Otago Vice Chancellor Professor David Murdoch expressed condolences to His Majesty King Charles III and the Royal Family, and said Queen Elizabeth II had lived an ‘‘extraordinary lifetime of service and devotion to people from around the world’’.
‘‘The Queen was much-loved by generations of people, and we remember her contribution at a time of great sadness for many,’’ Prof Murdoch said.
Victoria League Otago branch president David Crooks said local members of the royal society, with deep roots in the United Kingdom, were saddened by the death of Her Late Majesty the Queen.
At a meeting on Saturday, members had acknowledged the passing of the Queen as Victoria League patron and shared warm memories of her life.
Further information about mourning observances will be available on the Governor-General’s website, at gg.govt.nz
