A retired couple who bought a bungalow in Rookley discovered a disused bus shelter in the front garden — and inside it, a stone plaque celebrating the Queen’s Coronation.

Now Marian and Robert Jackson plan to join the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations next week by inviting special guests to visit the plaque.

Isle of Wight Bus and Coach Museum president and archivist Richard Newman, a former bus driver with Southern Vectis, remembers when the shelter, then part of the main road, was last in use more than 40 years ago.

The Jacksons purchased their home last year and at first sight assumed the brick building was a garden shed.

No one could explain at the time why the bus shelter had moved from the road outside to the garden.

They later approached a stonemason who confirmed the plaque’s authenticity and that it was hand carved and made of portland stone.

Marian said: “Our objective would be to open the shelter for official events, including perhaps the Tour of Britain bike road race in September.

“The jubilee is a wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate the Queen’s longevity and to thank her for her stoicism in putting up with so much in her life.

"We’ve been lucky to have such a brilliant Queen.”

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She also hoped the shelter and plaque might provide a symbolic historical structure in the local campaign to reduce the spread of overdevelopment.

“Like a lot of people I’m worried that developers are building too many new properties which in time could ruin the village image.”

Bus historian Mr Newman recollects when the bus stop was in its original position adjacent to the shelter.

“The stop was moved for safety reasons because of road widening. I believe the shelter and a similar one also no longer in use at Godshill were built for the coronation in 1953.”                             

*The Bus and Coach museum, at the former Park Road Bus Depot at Ryde, is holding a Running Day in October when visitors can travel on old historic buses around the Island."

Read more: Order County Press's jubilee souvenir now.