After 30 years, Damon follows father to Palace

Damon Hill, who followed his father's tracks to become world motor-racing champion, yesterday retraced Graham Hill's footsteps to Buckingham Palace to receive the insignia of the OBE from the Queen.

Indeed, the last time Damon was at Buckingham Palace, he was just seven- years-old and sat in the ballroom to see his father receive the same honour. Graham Hill then pinned the medal on his young son (right).

Yesterday, almost 30 years later, it was his turn to be honoured in his own right. "The room seems smaller than I remember it," he said. "I'm very, very proud to be honoured by the Queen and by the country in this way. It's an extremely precious thing."

The Queen was "up to speed" with her Formula One knowledge, said Hill. "She appreciated that it was a close finish last year. And she also knows that it is going to be a bit tougher this year."

Hill, who won the 1996 world driver's championship with the Williams team, is now struggling to return to the top flight with the Yamaha Arrows team. Just nine days ago, his Yamaha car failed to start in the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne.

"We're going to Brazil next week for the next grand prix and looking forward to doing better," he said.

The former England and Surrey cricketer Sir Alec Bedser was knighted by the Queen.

Accompanied by his twin brother Eric, 78-year-old Sir Alec said: "It's a long way from walking through the gates of the Oval in 1938, as a member of the ground staff."