Bromsgrovians among those meeting The Queen

Buy photos » Debbie Roberts with her invitation on Wednesday, before she went to Worcester to have lunch in the presence of HM The Queen. s

RESIDENTS across Bromsgrove District were among those who got to have lunch in the presence of HM The Queen and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh when they visited the county on Wednesday (July 11).

The trip to Worcester was part of the Diamond Jubilee Tour and marked the first visit by Her Majesty to the area for over a decade.

The highlight for the thousands who lined the streets to welcome the couple was the walkabout in the warm sunshine where The Queen and the Duke spoke to the crowds.

During her visit, Her Majesty also formally opened the city’s new £60million public library and history centre, unveiled a plaque at The Hive and had lunch at the Guildhall with around 100 invited guests.

Debbie Roberts is the managing director of EPIC (Empowering People in the Community), based at The TRUNK in Charford. She was chosen for her work in the local community, where she has been based for more than 15 years.

Debbie said: “It was incredible to see how close The Queen was to the crowds - we saw first hand how she went over and above to speak to people.

“It was definitely a very memorable, never to be repeated, experience that I will never forget.”

Charlotte ‘Betty’ Webb from Wythall was chosen for her work during World War II at Bletchley Park, where the Government Code and Cypher School was based. It is widely believed that she, and her fellow ATS colleagues based at Bletchley, helped save Britain from another two years of war.

In the May after the war, Betty was seconded to The Pentagon in America, which she said was an amazing experience.

Betty moved to Wythall in 1985 and is the vice-chairman of Wythall Parish Council.

On her day on Wednesday, Betty said it was an honour to see Her Majesty and got to speak to The Duke.

She said: “I told him about my work at Bletchley Park and he asked me if I had been to the memorial there.

“The whole day was splendid - it was a beautiful occasion and the staff looked after us all very well indeed.

“Not everybody gets to be in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen,” she added.

Bromsgrove Civic Head, Coun Janice Boswell and Bromsgrove District Council leader, Coun Roger Hollingworth, were also at the lunch.

The royal visit came to a rousing conclusion with a service at Worcester Cathedral, which featured ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ - written by Worcester composer Sir Edward Elgar.

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