Newton and Earlestown Community Group members headed to London yesterday to attend the Royal Garden Party due to their continuous voluntary services in the community and during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Members and volunteers of the group attended the party at Buckingham Palace as their efforts in the community were recognised.

The group were initially set to attend the Royal party in May 2020, however, plans were postponed due to Covid-19. 

NECG had since been awarded a Queen's Award in recognition of their voluntary service during the global crisis. 

Before heading to the garden party, the MBE for volunteer group winners were represented by Conor McGinn MP at the House of Parliament, where members saw Mr McGinn speak in the Chamber. 

Newton-le-Willows Councillor Seve Gomez-Aspron, said: “It’s almost exactly ten years since we set up NECG, and the group have grown from strength to strength bringing back Newton Town Show, Newton Heritage Trail, community events, the Norman Harvey VC project, progressing the Walter Urwin project and loads of other community activities, combined with Covid, mean it’s a real honour to help and be involved in the project.

It was fantastic that our members and volunteers could be rewarded in this way.”

St Helens Star: Newton and Earlestown Community GroupNewton and Earlestown Community Group

Also at the Royal Garden Party was Chris Lamb, also known as Chris Lamb Choc Oranges, who expressed his delight of attending the event on Twitter. 

Chris is widely known in the community for his campaign Make A Difference Friday, where he donates Terry's Chocolate Oranges to medical staff across the country, following the passing of his late son Elliott Lamb in 2010. 

He was invited to the event at Buckingham Palace to receive his British Empire Medal.

Chris' tweet stated: "Very lucky to be attending the Royal Garden Party today. Originally planned for 2020 but we all know what happened there."