Two officers in the Territorial Army unit based at the Canterbury Street barracks in Blackburn didn’t quite know what they had bargained for when they successfully bid in a charity auction held at the Mayor’s Ball in April.

The bid was for dinner with me at the Commons.

We chose an evening when I was pretty confident I’d not be involved in Parliamentary business.

One can be wrong. Very wrong.

The dinner was held this Monday when the new Speaker was elected.

Each course was punctuated by bells, as I got summonsed to vote, to hear the result – and then for my walk-on part as a Royal Commissioner (read on!).

It was certainly a day to remember. I’ve witnessed four elections for Speaker.

Monday’s was the most important. It took place not because Speaker Martin felt obliged to stand down in the light of the MPs expenses scandal – and this was the first such effectively forced departure for more than three centuries.

The contest also broke new ground by having a secret ballot.

There’s a good reason for this. As a general rule it’s vital in a democracy that voters should know exactly how their representative is using the power they’ve been given.

So the lists of how I’ve voted over the years are available on the Commons’ record (‘Hansard’) for all to see.

These votes however are about issues – anything from abortion or the Iraq war, to some obscure sub-section of a minor Bill.

The problem with open voting on individuals is that it can – and does – lead to unacceptable pressure on individuals.

So on this occasion we had a secret ballot.

But now the vote is over, I’m happy to say publicly, who was my choice of Speaker – Sir George Young, the senior Conservative MP who chairs the Commons’ Standards and Privileges Committee.

But I’m clear that John Bercow, who won the contest by a conclusive margin, has the qualities to be an authoritative and reforming Speaker, and to help lead the task of restoring public confidence in Parliament and democratic politics.

He’s bright, articulate, and crucially is wholly committed to strengthening the Commons as the voice of the British people.

But Mr Bercow could not take over until the Queen had given her permission.

As she was not personally available, the task of announcing the Royal permission fell to a Commission – with your MP in the chair.

When, alongside my day jobs of MP and Justice Secretary I took on the curious and ancient role of Lord Chancellor I was given a tricorn hat.

It had its first outing on Monday evening when I sat in front of the Throne in the Lords to issue the Royal proclamation, and ensure that Mr Bercow was properly installed.

I was able to get tickets for the TA officers to watch, so they went away pretty happy.

And it was very fitting that their great generosity towards the Mayor’s Charity was properly rewarded, by an action packed and wholly unanticipated evening.