Royal date for Good Samaritan

9:42am Sunday 20th July 2008

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A GOOD Samaritan who put in almost five decades of work for the Red Cross has had a date with royalty at a Buckingham Palace garden party.

June Coleridge, 85, who sits on Marlow Town Council, trained as a nurse with the charity more than 47 years ago, and has been volunteering ever since.

In recognition of her achievement, she was invited to the palace garden party, and even had a chance to shake hands and chat with the Prince of Wales.

Cllr Coleridge said: It was a memorable occasion. I'm sure we've been at the wettest garden party ever.'' However, she said that the weather failed to dampen spirits: When I met the prince, I told him our family motto - if you want green grass, you need rain.

He said and I need it for my vegetables too'.'' Around 7,000 people attended the garden party, which was held to celebrate the centenary of the Red Cross receiving its Royal Charter.

Cllr Coleridge was driven to the event from her home in St Peter Street by her son David, and was also joined by her sister Rita Caswell.

Two other Marlow residents were invited, but were unable to attend - Jennifer Nightingale, who worked in the Red Cross office, and former secretary, Wendy Ball - each of whom put in more than 45 years for the group.

Cllr Coleridge has made a number of contributions to Marlow on behalf of the Red Cross, including going door-to-door in the 1950s delivering coal to pensioners on Christmas Eve.

In the early 60s she helped to find a new site in Victoria Road for the Red Cross building, and helped to raise the £8,000 required for building work.

She was the director of the Buckinghamshire branch of the Red Cross for many years, finally giving it up in 1983 at the age of 60.