A BAGPIPER who helped lead the procession ahead of The Queen’s funeral admits it will take several days to come to terms with the enormity of the event.

Stuart Hume, 51, from Westcliff, joined the rest of the band from the London Scottish Regiment to accompany The Queen on her journey from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey yesterday.

Mr Hume and his fellow pipers were at the front of procession, playing specially selected music for the event.

He said: “It was obviously very sombre but when we started playing it is all just automatic. There were very few people there, there was the press and the military people.

“There was a strange feeling of emptiness, and it was very sombre and there was an empty feeling.

“When we marched from the barracks to Westminster Hall, I was feeling OK, nervous and excited.

“We’ve never done anything like this before. Before we started playing I was making sure I had everything in my mind and was going through it all and making sure I didn’t make any mistakes.

“It was certainly a privilege and is a once in a life time opportunity that most people will not ever have.”