A BLAIRINGONE woman will receive a Coronation Medal for her performance in the reserve bands at the Royal Gun Salute.

Blythe Johnston is an army reserve member of the 225 Field Hospital and a Cadet Force Adult Volunteer with the Regimental Band of the Black Watch Army Cadet Force.

She was chosen to take part in the Royal Gun Salute at Edinburgh Castle to mark the coronation of King Charles III, playing the cornet during the proceedings.

Blythe described the experience as an “honour” as she got to perform God Save the King during the gun salute.

She said: “A couple of the adults were invited by the Lowland Reserve Band to help with the gun salute at Edinburgh Castle.

“We got to play for the guard mount before the gun salute and then playing God Save the King during the gun salute.

“It was amazing. It’s one of those things that, for a lot of people, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing.

“It’s something that, as a cadet instructor, you don’t think you’re going to get the opportunity to do so it was an honour getting invited to play with the reserve band.”

Alongside volunteering with the cadet bands, Blythe is a full-time staff nurse at HMP Glenochil.

As a reward for performing, Blythe is due to receive a Coronation Medal, which is given out to those in the armed forces or emergency services who have serviced for five years or more.