The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2005

Awarded to Huddersfield University of the Third Age

We shall receive a Certificate signed by the Queen with the citation “Encouraging active lives in Huddersfield through mental stimulation and recreational activities for retired people and those with physical difficulties”.   In addition, we shall also receive an engraved piece of commemorative crystal.   We can also display the logo “unsung heroes” with the Crown on our stationery and literature.

We wish to thank Ted Duggan who initiated the application.  We are also indebted to Bill Nichols, who I am sure many of you will know for his work with the Prince's Trust.   Bill was the person who completed the form which nominated U3A for the award and was assisted in the early stages by Arthur Brown.   We must also thank Bob Ellis and Jean Broadbent who responded promptly to the Queen’s Award organisation when information was requested regarding our suitability to receive the award.

Everyone, past or present, who has in any way made a contribution to Huddersfield and District University of the Third Age should be immensely proud that we have been recognised as a major provider of services to the community.

Philip Walton.   Chairman

THE DAY WE WENT TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE  by Shirley Herbert

As part of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service an invitation was received for two representatives to be guests of Her Majesty at one of her Garden Parties.   In addition, each representative could take a guest of their own.  Philip Walton and his wife Pat, Ted Duggan (our Activities Organiser) and me made up the foursome.   At first, we didn’t know when the Garden Party would be held but then, we got the date, Thursday 14^th July.

Phil immediately set about booking our accommodation for Wednesday and Thursday nights at a very large hotel near Russell Square. He and Pat had decided to go down a day or two earlier to visit relations, while Ted and I booked our seats on a coach.

Just one week before we were to set off, the whole of the country was devastated by the news of the atrocious London bombings.  However, if the Queen could attend her Garden Party – so could we!   We consoled ourselves with the thought that lightening doesn’t strike twice in the same place.

The following Wednesday, Ted and I set off on the coach to London Victoria.   The journey down was fine, no problems at all.   However, that wasn’t the case when we got to the Coach Station and tried to get a taxi to our Hotel.

About 5.0pm we managed to get a taxi to take us up into central London where we had already booked a meal and tickets for a show.   Both were absolutely excellent but getting back to our hotel was not at all so easy.

We walked part of the way and then managed to get a taxi that took us a bit further but reached a point where we could go no further because of the barricades.   A very nice young couple took pity on us and led us through the grounds of a College until we were within sight of our Hotel ----- but we couldn’t get in!

The whole place was cordoned off due to a car parked just outside, containing a suspicious looking package and having no registered owner!   We prepared for a night on a nearby park bench.

However, our wonderful Police Force tracked down the owner and at about 1.00am we were able to get to our rooms and try to get some sleep.

The following morning, Phil and Pat set off to walk down to the Thames while Ted and I decided to go to Russell Square Gardens.   The whole of one corner was covered in bunches of flowers, great and small,  and heartbreaking to look at.

After a little lunch, we changed into our finery and managed to get a taxi to Buckingham Palace.   We strolled through the huge lawn, found a nice little table and four chairs and claimed them (as far as I was concerned) for the rest of the afternoon.   The fashion show strolling backwards and forwards was terrific (and the ladies were pretty good too).   We had expected about 400 people being there, we were told there was 4,000! (and that I can well believe).

At 4.00pm the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh came out into the garden and walked the length to the Royal Marquee.   Pat and Phil got a close view but Ted and I stayed put.   (I was guarding those chairs against all comers.)  When at last it was time to leave the Palace it dawned on us that most of those 4,000 guests would be wanting a taxi so we set off to walk – at least part of the way – back to the hotel.

Ted, bless him, managed to flag a taxi going in the opposite direction, who willingly turned round and got us back to the hotel.   Later on, we had dinner at another Italian Restaurant which was excellent.

We strolled back to the hotel - with nothing much to say to each other – had a bite to eat and then set off for Victoria Coach Station.   We had hired the taxi driver who brought us back to the hotel the previous evening.

The trip back to Wakefield was fairly uneventful, we were a little delayed due to an accident on the M1 but were only about 15 minutes late in arriving at Wakefield.