Barbara Benfield receives her MBE at Buckingham Palace. She is pictured with her mother, Gladys Benfield, and partner John Barnett. (0860496)
ISLANDER Barbara Benfield collected her MBE at Buckingham Palace last week. Former States member Barbara, 50, received the award for services to the community.
She was accompanied on the trip to London by her mother Gladys and partner John Barnett.
Barbara, who lives in La Marette, said: ‘The whole day was just incredible. Meeting the Queen and seeing Buckingham Palace are things I won’t forget in a long time.’
Well known for setting up Alderney Age Concern, Barbara travelled to London a day before her investiture.
She said: ‘We flew over last Wednesday and took my mum to see the sights. We went everywhere. We watched the stars going into a film premiere in Leicester Square and went to Trafalgar Square. We also saw Downing Street and Big Ben. Mum hadn’t been to London for 50 years so she really enjoyed it.’
Despite feeling tired after all the sightseeing, Barbara hardly slept a wink the night before her trip to the palace.
‘I was terrified. As for sleeping the night before, there wasn’t a lot of that. I felt very nervous all morning as well.’
She went on to describe her brush with royalty.
‘We showed our invitation at the gates to Buckingham Palace.
I was then separated from mum and John and taken to a huge gallery. There were quite a few of us and we were all talked through the protocol and told what was going to happen.
We were taken into groups for the ceremony. You then wait before going to a doorway. After that you get a nod to go in before being announced.’
Thankfully for Barbara, the Queen helped calm her nerves.
‘She was really nice. She said she hadn’t been to Alderney for a while and that she was aware of how much work I’d done.’
After receiving her medal, Barbara almost turned her back on the monarch.
‘You’re told to take three paces up, talk, get your medal and take three paces back. I nearly turned after the Queen shook my hand. I kind of half turned and suddenly remembered to walk backwards.’
Barbara said her 80-year-old mother particularly enjoyed the trip.
‘For two days she was like a child in a sweet shop. She sat right at the front, so she saw me meet the Queen. It’s all done so that every person who is with you can see what’s going on.’
The day is something Barbara will remember forever.
She said: ‘All in all it was an unforgettable experience on behalf of the people of Alderney.’
A peace garden is to be built on the proposed leisure centre site in York Hill.
The small area of land is currently covered by thick brambles but the aim is to have it cleared by next spring.
Jane Aireton, who is involved in the Alderney Community and Sports Centre project, said: ‘We have permission from the States to create a peace garden and build a grove of trees.
‘The brambles are very thick at the moment and it’ll take time for them to be cleared but we’re hoping local people will get involved in knocking them down.’
Jane also revealed that TV presenter Miranda Krestovnikoff had agreed to plant the first tree at the site and officially open the garden. Famous for her appearances on Coast and The One Show, Miranda visited the island in August with her family.
Article posted on 23rd October, 2009 - 10.00am
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