A DISABLED woman received the perfect birthday present when she got the chance to represent a disability organisation at a Buckingham Palace garden party.
Mary Hayes, who has been a resident of Symonds House, off Lucas Lane, Hitchin, for 30 years, celebrated her 47th birthday last week, three days after attending the garden party on behalf of Leonard Cheshire Disability.
Mary’s name was selected at random after residents of Leonard Cheshire Disability care homes - which provides voluntary care for disabled people - across the UK applied.
Accompanied by key worker Carmela Cannella and driver Paul Smith, Mary met Camilla Parker Bowles and the Duchess of Gloucester during her visit, as well as being acknowledged by the Queen.
The garden party was all captured on video and Mary has ordered a DVD of the occasion, so she can relive her run in with royalty with family and her fellow Symonds House residents.
Speaking after the event, held on Tuesday, July 20, Mary said: “It was a great, great day.
“I met a lot of royalty - the Queen had a blue dress with white flowers on it.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here