“Great Honour For Us, Very Proud to Represent MHA And MHA Stratton House” – Colleagues from Bath Home Share Experience of Royal Garden Party

Two colleagues from a Bath home were given a once in a lifetime opportunity when they were invited to the Royal Garden Party.

Julie Sheppard and Jan Rich both work at MHA Stratton House and were nominated by MHA, the organisation who runs the home to go to the Royal Garden Party.

Julie works as a domestic, laundry and kitchen assistant and has been at the home for almost nine years, and Jan has been a volunteer at the home for 12 years.

The duo won an award during MHA’s internal annual awards, the OSCAR’s, where Jan was awarded volunteer of the year and Julie won the Walter Hall Special Recognition Award, named after the founder of MHA.

Royal Garden Parties are exclusive events hosted by the British monarch at Buckingham Palace.

They recognise public service, drawing around 8,000 community leaders and charity workers to each event for an afternoon of tea, cake, and strolls on the palace grounds

MHA Stratton House offers residential care for 33 residents.

Speaking of their experience Julie said: “ When Emma, our deputy home manager told me what was happening, initially I was in disbelief.

“Making the journey from Bath station to Buckingham Palace, me and Jan both were very excited.

“The atmosphere at Buckingham Palace and the gardens was amazing, everyone was dressed up and the place was full of people.

“It was a great honour for us, and we felt very proud to represent MHA and MHA Stratton House.”

Jan added: “ It really was a wonderful experience and one we will both never forget.

“When we came back to work, the residents and fellow colleagues were very excited, and the residents were keen to see the pictures and kept asking us what the day was like.

“We are both very grateful for the nomination, and it was a huge honour for us.”