Outstanding volunteers honoured by the Queen

WRVS members (from the left) Irene Porter, Sonia Chapman, Edna Banks, Cathy Morse, Jack Iveson, Doreen French and project manager Jean Martin

A TRIP to Buckingham Palace for tea with the Queen is on the cards for a Failsworth Luncheon Club which scooped a prestigious national volunteering award.

Broadbent Luncheon Club, based in Lord Lane, is one of only 12 organisations in the North-West to win The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for volunteer groups.

Run by the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS), the club holds lunches and craft sessions every week for people aged 50 to 92.

Project manager Jean Martin has been involved in the club since it was formed in 1966.

The 77-year-old, from Clifton Street, Failsworth, said she had forgotten all about the nomination, which was submitted by a number of people connected with WRVS last June.

She said: “The volunteers are all walking on cloud nine. I’m very proud of them, they always work exceptionally hard and are a great team. I’m very proud they’ve got the recognition they deserve.”

The prestigious national honour recognises outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups voluntarily devoting their time for the benefit of others.

More than 850 groups have won the award, including 87 in the North-West, in the eight years since it was created by the Queen to mark her Golden Jubilee in 2002.

The luncheon club volunteers will receive a certificate signed by the Queen and an exclusive commemorative crystal, presented by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenants at special ceremonies in July.

Four of the volunteers will also be heading down to London to attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in the summer.

Mrs Martin said: “We’d love to meet the Queen but I’m sure she will be quite busy.”

The Broadbent Luncheon Club, holds lunches from 11.30am every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

For more details on the handicraft sessions, call Jean Martin, project manager, on 0161 681 4146.

For information on how to nominate a group, visit www.direct.gov.uk/thequeensawardforvoluntaryservice