Members of an Oldham community group which was awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2021 have finally had their moment at Buckingham Palace.
David Wilkinson, who founded Networking in East Oldham Neighbourhoods (NEON), and trustee Caroline Lawson both attended on behalf of the charity.
The charity, based in the old East Oldham Town Hall on Holt Street, provides a space for a range of community events – including Citizens Advice Bureaus and a weekly brunch that provides a full breakfast for just £1.
The Buckingham Palace Garden party, which saw 8,000 members of the public invited, was postponed until this year because of the pandemic.
Taking place on Wednesday, May 25, the party featured an appearance from William and Kate – the Duke and the Duchess of Cambridge. It was the final in a series of three garden parties at the palace.
Caroline and David both stayed in Leicester Square for their trip to Buckingham Palace – and said the city busy as it was ramping up for the jubilee celebration.
David said: “Near Leicester Square, they were putting in what must have been over 1,000 plants.”
Caroline told The Oldham Times: “As soon as you go in at Hyde Park Corner and you step foot into her garden, you don’t hear London.”
“Total calm,” added David.
Caroline, who is a particular fan of William and Kate, said: “There were other people in other groups who had been on different Wednesdays – we knew the first garden party was Charles and Camilla, and the middle one was Edward and Sophie.
“I had my fingers, and everything, crossed for it to be William and Kate. When I saw them come out, it was like a wish come true.
“It’s quite emotional. It just made my day.”
Wiping away tears, Caroline added: “Edward was there, and Beatrice was as well. It was the fact that they mingled.
“We didn’t get the golden ticket, which means you get to have a chat with them, but it didn’t matter because I got so close to them.
“It was just lovely. Despite the bit of rain we had, the sun came out after – and it was just lovely.”
Of Kate, Caroline added: “She’s just beautiful, you know – and at the end of the day, she’s just a normal person – she’s just been given a title.
"To think that one day she’ll be Queen. They were really, really nice.”
While Caroline and David both enjoyed their day, they agreed that it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
David said: “The likelihood of it happening again is probably never."
“Apparently you only get to go to the garden party – you have to say whether you’ve been before on the form,” Caroline interjected.
David added: “The demand must be massive – with the variation of people that we saw there – from nations across the world – there were some traditional dresses there too, everyone looked absolutely superb.”
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