Two well-kent faces and volunteers with Findhorn-based rescue organisation MIRO attended a prestigious garden party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on Wednesday (29 June).
Moray Inshore Rescue Organisation (MIRO) senior Coxswain, Simon Paterson, and Helm, Alastair Macdonald (Attie), were invited to the garden party, which was attended by Prince Charles, The Princess Royal and the Earl and Countess of Wessex and Forfar.
MIRO Chairman, John Low, said: “On 2 June 2020 MIRO was awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. It is regarded as the ‘MBE’ for voluntary organisations.
Honour
“It really was a great honour to receive this award and we were very privileged that HRH The Princess Royal came to Findhorn in October 2021 to present our award and meet our volunteers. Due to the Covid pandemic, there were no royal garden parties in 2020 or 2021, however, in January we received an invitation for two volunteers from MIRO to attend the 2022 garden party at Holyroodhouse. I am delighted that Simon and Attie were able to attend on behalf of the MIRO team. ”
Simon Paterson said: “I am glad that Attie and I had the opportunity to represent MIRO at the garden party. It was a very enjoyable day. An added pleasure for me was that my wife, Katrina, was also at the garden party, having received her own invitation.”
Proud and privileged
Attie Macdonald said: “Simon and I were very proud and privileged to represent MIRO at such a prestigious event.
“The gates opened at 3pm and, thankfully, the rain had stopped by then and the sun was shining. Tea was served in the main tent from 3.30 until 5.30pm, following which the national anthem announced the arrival of the royals.
“The Queen is at Holyrood just now but was represented on the day by Prince Charles, who came down the Queen’s Avenue where we were standing. Prince Edward and Sophie were on another avenue and Princess Anne was involved in a grand circle at the end of the avenues. The avenues were formed by members of the Royal Company of Archers who are the Sovereign’s ceremonial bodyguard in Scotland.
“We met a variety of people from Moray who had all been invited for a variety of volunteering reasons.”