Nine volunteers from the Abergavenny Barnardo’s Helper Group had a day trip to London by royal appointment last week.

They had each been invited to a garden party at Buckingham Palace as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of the children’s charity.

The garden party was hosted by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, the President of Barnardo’s. Princess Alexandra and The Duchess of Gloucester were also present.

The event was to acknowledge and thank staff, volunteers and other key supporters for their hard work and commitment over the years. Barnardo’s works with more than 240,000 of the UK’s most vulnerable children, young people, parents and carers and runs 960 services around the United Kingdom.

Among those the Abergavenny contingent met were three ladies who were once ‘Barnardo’s children’, two from Australia and one from Canada who had travelled to Britain especially for the occasion.

The group mingled with celebrities such as fashions designer Bruce Oldfield, singer Nicola Roberts, actors Rosamund Pike, Lesley Joseph, Warwick Davies, Melvyn Hayes and former children’s presenter Baroness Floella Benjamin.

On offer in the tea tent were finger sandwiches and a selection of dainty cakes while two brass bands entertained the guests.

“We had perfect weather and had a very enjoyable - but tiring - day,” said Veronica Williams, the Abergavenny BHG Chairwoman.

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Left to right: Glenys Purver, Linda Morgan, Margaret Martin, Kath Jones, Maxine Benallick and Veronica Williams. Not in the picture, Margaret Reardon, Liz Macintosh and Irena Morgan.