Queen honours community stalwarts with Maundy gifts
THE QUEEN has personally thanked community stalwarts for their work to “enrich the life” of their neighbours in a letter honouring Maundy money recipients.
The monarch has written to those she would have presented with symbolic coins during the annual Royal Maundy service, but who instead have received the gift by post after the event was cancelled for the second year running due to coronavirus restrictions.
“I am delighted to send you the Maundy gift which I hope you will accept as an expression of my personal thanks to you for all that you have done to enrich the life of your community,” the Queen said in her letter.
“Each year, at the Royal Maundy Service, we have an opportunity to recognise, and give thanks for, work done by countless people for the wellbeing of their neighbours; work that has often been taken for granted or hidden.”
Among those who received Maundy money was one of the country’s oldest skiers, 101-yearold George Stewart, who has been a permanent fixture at his local Perthshire church in Scotland for almost 30 years, and was due to attend the cancelled service at Westminster Abbey yesterday.
Mr Stewart, a widower and retired forester from the town of Scone, said: “I’m very honoured to be given this money as part of a very venerable and ancient occasion. I think it’s a great thing and I’m very honoured to receive the letter the Queen sent with it.”
Retired pensioners who have supported the church and their communities, are recommended by clergy of all denominations to receive Maundy money.
Also recognised was Sue Ward from Portsmouth, who is a church warden at the city’s cathedral and supports a number of organisations including Christian Aid through fundraising and awareness raising events.
She said: “I’m astonished and delighted to receive Maundy money from the Queen. I don’t really feel as though I deserve it, but it is an honour .”
During the service, the Queen would have distributed Maundy money to 95 men and 95 women – as she will be 95 on April 21.
But the money was posted instead, due to the social distancing instructions, with recipients receiving two purses, one red and one white.
The white purse is filled with uniquely minted Maundy money – silver one, two, three and four penny pieces – to the value of 95 pence.
I don’t really feel as though I deserve it, but it is an honour. Church warden and fundraiser Sue Ward, from Portsmouth.