Alison Aitken is considered royalty at the Australian War Memorial, but each Anzac Day she takes the time to sit alone with her memories

Each Anzac Day, Alison Aitken quietly shuffles into her seat in the VIP section for the national memorial service at the Australian War Memorial.

The sprightly 95-year-old is easily recognised by her immaculate dress sense, recalling a time when hats and gloves were mandatory for any woman venturing out in public.

“As soon as you were out of a pram, hats and gloves were put on you,” Mrs Aitken said.

Mrs Aitken’s association with the Australian War Memorial in Canberra harks back to 1976, when she was part of the inaugural intake of volunteer guides. She served in that role for several decades, guiding thousands of visitors through the memorial’s…