Visit to the Palace to meet the Queen

A WOMAN from Melksham recently attended the Royal Maundy Service at Windsor Castle and received Maundy money from the Queen.

90-year-old Freda Maggs received a letter in December from Buckingham Palace inviting her to St. George’s Chapel for the special Maundy service. Every Easter the Queen gives out red and white purses containing Maundy money to pensioners, in recognition of their service to the community and the church.

“I had a wonderful memorable day,” said Freda. “Everyone was so friendly and helpful and things went really smoothly. The Queen looked delightful and it was a very moving service.  It was good to have friends with me for such a special occasion.”

Friend of Freda and a fellow parishioner of St Andrew’s Church in Melksham, Trish Gater, accompanied Freda on the trip.

Trish said, “Freda asked if I would be her companion for the day and some honour that was. Four of us travelled to Windsor, Christine, also from St Andrew’s Church and Peter, my husband, all on hand to have a wheelchair and walker with us.

“We had an hour or more before the start of the service and could admire the magnificent building and listen to music from the organ.  A wonderful procession arrived at the chapel, with the Governor and his Military Knights of Windsor, children and gentlemen of her majesty’s chapel, the choir and lots of clergy in ornate robes.  The pomp and ceremony was a joy to see and then came her majesty the Queen with his royal highness Prince Philip, along with more scarlet-clad Yeomen of the Guard carrying trays with the Maundy purses, wandsmen and others too numerous to mention.

“Everyone was smiling, but the recipients and companions were all so quiet and respectful.  I can feel it now as I recall the day. It was a lovely service with hymns, readings and prayers,  with a break for the distribution of the Maundy purses.

“The recipients on the outside, their companions on the  inside and the Queen came down each aisle to hand over a white and a red purse and a genuine smile for each of them and their companions.  After the rest of the service and the blessing, the National Anthem was sung; a goose bumps moment.

“After the service we were taken by a liveried driver to a reception at the state apartments.  Freda went up in the tiniest lift, just room for her in a wheelchair, and me climbing an ancient spiral stone staircase to meet her at the top. along with another gentleman to push her to this fabulous ornate red carpeted room where we were served with the tiniest of sandwiches and canapes from silver salvers and wine or fruit juice.  Here we were able to chat to other recipients from all parts of the country. It was perfect from start to finish.

“We had one last ride back to the entrance to meet with Christine and Pete and exchange events of the day over coffee before heading back to Melksham and to look at the Maundy money.

The white purse had silver pennies, twopences, threepences and fourpences equalling ninety, the Queen’s age. The red purse contained a commemorative £5 coin for the Queen’s 90th birthday and a 50p commemorating the Battle of Hastings which represented an allowance for clothing and provisions.  We weren’t  able to take photos at the chapel and castle, but this was the most memorable day imaginable and I’d like to thank Freda for asking me to be part of it with her.”