I was a young school child at the time of Elizabeth Windsor's coronation and having just been bribed with a tin of biscuits and a purple book saying how wonderful the monarchy was I thought it was quite a good thing. After all, who wouldn't like a free tin of biscuits and support the monarchy if that was the sort of thing kings and queens did? Things could only get better so I asked my parents when it would be their turn to be king and queen and how you go about it. Sadly, I was disappointed with the answer and that is probably the time when I first saw the injustice of the monarchy.

Later, I wanted to join the Boy Scouts and after an induction period it was time to actually "join" and become a "proper" scout. Unfortunately this involved swearing the Oath and this was something I was not prepared to do. The result was that I was not able to join or participate further in any scout activities. I was effectively barred from becoming a scout for refusing to take the Oath. Had that been today then it I believe it would be possible to challenge it under discrimination legislation. And where else in the civilised world are children and young people below the age of majority required to make such a commitment, and importantly what would be done to the child if they were not loyal?

In adult life I wanted to become a police officer and after the initial selection process I was accepted for shortlisting. However, I knew that I would have to take the Oath if I was successful at the next stage. This caused me great concern as I could not take the Oath knowing full well that I did not agree with it and what it involved. I wrestled with my conscience and tried to think of ways to make "allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Her Heirs and Successors" mean "loyalty to the United Kingdom" or something similar, but without success. For this to be realistic and to maintain my integrity it would be essential either to have a different form of words or agreement for my meaning with the powers that be, but that was not forthcoming so I withdrew my application and made my career elsewhere.