Royal Garden Party Adventure for Chester’s Doreen

Royal Garden Party Adventure for Chester’s Doreen

Chester resident, singer, and ‘grandfriend’ Doreen Barnes has had the adventure of a lifetime with a trip to Buckingham Palace to mingle with Their Majesties the King and Queen, thanks to her dedication to the development of the city’s children.

The sunny summer reception saw the 89-year-old make her way to the capital from her home, Belong Chester care village, to represent the Sankofa Songsters, the city’s intergenerational choir featuring fellow residents, children, and other members of the wider community.

Speaking of the experience Doreen said: “We walked into the Palace gardens to the sound of music from the band and then we saw the King and Queen on the garden steps, waving to everyone. It was a lovely day, and I’ve never had one like it – to sum it up in one word: unforgettable!”

The retired civil servant spends much of her time fulfilling duties as a designated intergenerational champion and ‘grandfriend’, a moniker given to her by the cohort of children at the Nursery in Belong, the early years care setting integrated within her home, operated by national charity Ready Generations. In addition to singing alongside the youngsters in the choir, Doreen plays and dines with them and shows them the ways of the world.

Joining her at the palace were choir lead, Amanda Wrigley, volunteer pianist, Pete Legge, and singer Hollie McDiarmid. The invitation came after the choir performed at last year’s Royal Carols: Together at Christmas ceremony, the annual event hosted at Westminster Abbey by Catherine, Princess of Wales.

Sankofa Songsters’ choir lead, Amanda Wrigley of Live the Beat, commented: “What an honour it was to have been invited to the palace! Special thank you to Cheshire Community Foundation and Healthbox CIC for their role in supporting the choir’s work.”

Caroline Ray, general manager at Belong Chester, added: “We are thrilled to have had Doreen representing us. We are all about community and since day one moving in, she has immersed herself in village life, encouraging others to join in and make it what it is. Congratulations to Doreen and the Sankofa Songsters.”

Pictured: Doreen, Belong Chester tenant (centre), Pete Legge, volunteer (left) and Amanda Wrigley, choir lead (right) represent the Sankofa Songsters