Major Sir Michael John Parker, KCVO, CBE, late the Queen's Own Hussars, died 28 November, 2022. He was 81.
Parker was a leading producer of large-scale military tattoos and large-scale events in the United Kingdom and abroad. Educated at Dulwich Prep London and Hereford Cathedral School, Parker went to Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1959 and was commissioned into The Queen’s Own Hussars. After a successful career in the Army he left in 1971, and has since been responsible for over 300 official national, international and royal occasions. Parker was producer of the Royal Tournament for 27 years, from 1974 to 1999. He also produced the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, from 1992–1994, as well as the Berlin Tattoo and Wembley Military Musical Pageant. In 2000 Parker produced the Royal Military Millennium Tattoo 2000 on Horse Guards Parade.
Parker previously worked on the Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II in 1977, which included a nationwide chain of beacons throughout the country, the first being lit by The Queen at Windsor. In 2002 Parker produced the Golden Jubilee Weekend Festival at Buckingham Palace and in The Mall. Parker produced Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother’s 80th, 90th and 100th Birthday Celebrations.
Sir Michael also produced 'The Great Event' in celebration of The Queen’s 40th Anniversary in 1992, and 'The Royal Fireworks' on the eve of the wedding of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer.
In 1995 Parker produced the 50th Anniversary of VE Day in Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace and a VJ 50th Commemoration on Horse Guards and Buckingham Palace.
Internationally Parker also produced a variety of large-scale events, including celebrations in Jordan for King Hussein and the Royal wedding of King Abdullah II. He later produced events in Europe, USA, China, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia and Oman.
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