Community champ gets a royal treat

NAJMA Khalid (right) pictured with her mum Sabar Jan Masood

IT'S not every day one is invited to have tea in the presence of Her Majesty.

But community champion Najma Khalid, founder of the Women's CHAI Project, had the privilege of being invited to attend the Queen's garden party on Tuesday.

Oldham's Deputy Lieutenants' Committee nominated Najma to attend for all her voluntary and community development work over the last 20 years.

Every year the Queen hosts three garden parties at Buckingham Palace, and one at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Scotland. Garden parties take place as a way of recognising and rewarding public service.

Najma donned her best day dress and a hat for the special occasion, taking her mum Sabar Jaan Masood along with her.

Over the last 20 years, single mum-of-two Najma has carried out several projects reaching out to many people on a local, national and international level.

She founded the CHAI - Care, Help and Inspire - Project, which she runs at Greenhill Academy and Horton Mill Primary School in Oldham.

At these sessions Najma aims to raise Asian women's aspirations and holds various talks and workshops to raise awareness on many different subjects.

She also does a lot of work around cohesion and unity bringing people from all walks of life together.

Najma said: "It was such an honour to attend the Queen's garden party and see her Majesty the Queen. Thank you Oldham for recognition and selecting me.

"I took my mother with me, as she is the greatest inspiration in my life. When we arrived at Buckingham Palace we were taken into a reception room, which was filled with lots of paintings, and then out on to the terrace.

"We then went out to the beautiful garden where there was a large splendid tea tent for guests and a smaller one for the Queen ­- it was all very grand.

"At 4pm the National Anthem was played and the Queen and other royals arrived and walked through the gardens talking to guests.

"I was in the front row when both the Queen and Kate Middleton walked past. I was in awe. Her Majesty is so beautiful and graceful. The whole experience was wonderful and now a treasured memory."