A DAY centre brought a touch of royalty to West Oxfordshire with a garden party for its members.

Linda and Graeme Young, who run Witney Day Centre, treated dozens of elderly residents to the event at the Lord Kitchener pub, near Curbridge.

The celebrations came a week before Mr and Mrs Young attended one of The Queen’s Buckingham Palace garden parties, which recognise and reward public service.

Although they enjoyed their day out in London, the couple were keen to ensure the day centre’s members did not feel left out.

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Mrs Young said: “Going to the palace was lovely. But we obviously can’t take 40 people to Buckingham Palace, so the idea was that we brought the royal garden party to our members.

“They were very interested in what it would be like and what the Queen was wearing.”

The couple’s garden party invitation came after they were recommended by ex-Witney mayor Brenda Churchill, with The Queen and Prince Harry both in attendance at the palace.

In March, they were jointly named Witney’s Citizens of the Year 2018, following the day centre’s remarkable rise since it opened last year.

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The centre hosts more than 40 people every Thursday at Ceewood Hall, on Fettiplace Road.

But on May 23, the venue was used as a polling station for the European elections, so Mr and Mrs Young took the party elsewhere.

Members donned masks of famous faces in the royal family during the festivities, while a host of British-themed decorations offered a taste of the party at the palace.

Pupils at Cokethorpe School provided singing and entertainment, while everyone was treated to a two-course meal in the garden.

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The bright sunshine that overlooked the party at the Lord Kitchener was welcomed by Mr and Mrs Young, who had to shelter from the rain during the visit to the palace.

The day centre’s network of 19 volunteers helped the day run smoothly throughout.

Each weekly session costs £7.50 and residents come from as far as Carterton, with some travelling on the day centre’s own minibus.

The initiative also recently achieved charitable status, which will help safeguard its long term future.