The Evans family got together today for a special celebration. Geoffrey, my uncle, had been selected to receive Maundy Money in a ceremony allegedly dating back to 1213 and King John. Originally involving giving alms to the poor, it has now become a symbolic gesture recognising charitable or community service, and is quite an honour.
We all met outside the imposing Great West Gate of Westminister Abbey.
The BBC was televising the service, and so with no photography allowed it was easier to grab some pics from their broadcast!
Here is Geoffrey receiving his money.
And a picture of his money - a £5 coin, 50p coin and 85p of special silver pennies. All legal tender, it could just about cover the tube ride home! Of course, symbolically it is far more than that.
After the ceremony we had a good nose around the abbey:
And got a pic of the Queens seat, and Char posing on another significant seat (although we don't know why New Zealand has a seat in the choristry?). She got to sing 'God Save the Queen' for the first time... with the Queen present!
Meanwhile, the journalists outside were busy downloading and emailing their photos:
And interviewing guests, including mum!
We think he was just a trainee though...
Finally we witnessed the departure of the Royal motorcade, with the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh waving merrily. All in all a lovely day, even if the ceremony is a bit bizarre!
2 comments:
what an honour and event. Congratulations to Uncle Geoffrey. We look forward to meeting him as well as the rest of the Evans family. Not long now :).
Char and Dave:
I have been travelling for so long that I have missed out so much with what has been happening to you two! My! How grand! Char, I guess it is safe to say that you are THE first member from the Yoong family to have actually seen the Queen in person!
And what lovely engagement photos!
F A B U L O U S !!
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