A Hoxton pensioner held as a prisoner of war during the Korean conflict was honoured by the Queen last Thursday at the annual Royal Maundy Service for his charity work in the parish.

Ronald Miller, 78, spoke to Her Majesty as she presented him with his Maundy money in York Minster.

He said: “The Queen stood in front of me and I said to her ‘I was in a prisoner of war camp in 1953 and I was thinking of you’. Prince Philip was looking at my medals and the Queen looked at them as well. I was very proud.”

The Queen gave Mr Miller two pouches, one containing a penny, two pence, five pence and ten pence pieces, and the other containing a five pound coin and 50 pence piece, all made of silver.

“I wouldn’t part with them,” Mr Miller said. “I’m going to keep them with me until I pass on. It’s something you can’t ever forget.”

Father James Westcott, Vicar of Haggerston, went to York with Mr Miller and his companion Jane Brandon who travelled from Ireland for the occasion.

He said: “Ron was over the moon. I had tears in my eyes and I was very moved indeed to see him among all those people from so many different backgrounds proudly exhibiting his medals. He’s a modest man who wasn’t expecting it and was thrilled to be standing in front of the Queen.”

Normally 86 people would have received Maundy money from the Queen – one for each year of her life – but the number was doubled for her Diamond Jubilee year.

A Hackney resident for 44 years, Mr Miller was nominated to receive the money by the Bishop of London, Richard Chartres.