Royal reward delight

Marlene at Windsor Castle with her Maundy coins

A RARE reward was offered to an Oldham resident by the Queen.

Marlene Armitage, of Broadway, Chadderton, was one of only 180 men and women to receive Maundy money at this years Maundy Ceremony, at Windsor.

The Queen handed each recipient two purses — one white, containing unique Maundy coins equating to the Monarch’s age, and one red, containing a £5 coin commemmorating the Queens 90th birthday, and a 50p coin marking the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings.

Maundy money, awarded for service to the community, is distributed by the Royal family to recall the humble act of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples on Maundy Thursday.

Marlene, who went to Windsor with her husband Alan, said: “I was delighted and honoured to hear our diocesan bishop had put my name forward to receive money this year, and it was a bigger delight to be told it would be at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.”

Marlene is a member at Oldham Parish Church and has variously served as a Sunday School teacher, choir member, church council member and as church warden. She has also been a school governor for 42 years, was a magistrates fo over 30 years and has been on the bishop’s council. She is currently a member of the diocesan synod and a lay canon of Manchester cathedral.