AN AWARD-WINNING volunteer was among the Clydebank residents who travelled to Edinburgh recently after receiving invitations to the Queen’s Garden Party.

A GROUP of West Dunbartonshire residents, who have been recognised for services within their local community, rubbed shoulders with royalty at the Queen’s Garden Party earlier this month.

Ann Higley, from Duntocher, was part of a 20-strong group from West Dunbartonshire invited to the event, held in the grounds of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, in Edinburgh, as a thank you for their contributions and dedication to the places and people of the area.

The group was welcomed to Clydebank Town Hall by depute provost Karen Conaghan before travelling to Edinburgh for the celebration.

When they arrived, the Queen was introduced to a number of guests, with Prince Andrew and Prince Edwards joining them on the palace lawn.

Ann, a board member of Duntocher Village Halls, was invited after the hall committee was given the Provost’s special recognition award last year.

Ann told the Post the garden party was busy enough they only managed to get close enough to see the Queen’s hat, but enjoyed the pageantry, bands and the outfits.

She said: “I have never been to anything at all like that. It was very exciting for me. It was a privilege to be put forward for it. I was very grateful West Dunbartonshire Council put me forward for it, very grateful.

“I was very honoured I was asked, I was quite shocked but delighted. It’s something I would never have been invited to throughout my professional life. it’s great to get recognition for volunteer work.

“It is nice the fact the village hall committee – who are all volunteers and give up their time to keep the hall open for the community – are being recognised. It’s great for us.

“I want to congratulate my fellow committee members for the support they have given the community and making the hall such a busy and fabulous place to hire.”

Another attendee was Tracy Brittan, named Citizen of the Year last year after 15 years of tirelessly volunteering and raising money for Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS). She took her 90-year-old father, Derrick Robinson, with her to the event.

Tracy has raised thousands of pounds for CHAS since the charity launched an appeal to build the Robin House children’s hospice in 2002, while working full-time and being a mum and, more recently, a gran.

She said: “It was an absolutely fabulous day, and such an honour to have been invited.

“We saw the Queen, Duke of York and Earl of Wessex – it is definitely a story to tell the grandchildren.

“It was lovely to be in the company of the Royal family but speaking to the great people who had been invited and hearing why they were there and the good they had done was truly inspiring.

“After receiving my award, this was just the icing on the cake.”

Other invited guests included council employees praised through the employee recognition awards.

Depute Provost Conaghan said: “It was great to see such deserving residents so excited to be part of the Garden Party.

“It’s a small gesture to let these people know how much their hard work and dedication means to the communities around West Dunbartonshire.

“These are the people who make our area what it is and I was delighted to have the opportunity to say thank you to them in person.”