A KIND-HEARTED volunteer was thrilled to have been invited into Buckingham Palace to see the Queen.
Beryl Whittingham, of Clutton, received the invite after residents and fellow volunteers nominated her for an award for services to local community.
Beryl, 71, had her name put forward by at least six groups and organisations within the village, and enjoyed a memorable day at the palace.
She said: “It was lovely, I didn’t actually get to meet the Queen as I was in the second row but I think those who do meet her are notified beforehand.
“But I was practically face to face with her, it was brilliant. We had lovely weather, it was a real treat.
“It was so nice that I had been nominated, nobody would say who was actually responsible but it turns out I had six nominations.
“I just do what I want to do and I get on with it.”
Beryl has been a member of Coddington and District Parish Council, the PCC at St Mary’s Church in Coddington, a Clutton Primary School governor and she continues to be on the Parish Rooms committee, a fundraiser for the Friends of Clutton Primary School organisation and a member of Clutton WI.
Local resident Helen Sadler said Beryl, who was accompanied to London by daughter Michelle Bleazard, was nominated for a community award as recognition of her voluntary work around Clutton. She added that the Buckingham Palace trip was the least she deserved.
She said: “It was just a way for our little community to say thank you to Beryl. She does so much work. Without her, everything would stop!”
