Newton Aycliffe Community volunteer David Sutton-Lloyd was honoured to represent our area at a Diamond Jubilee Lunch held at Durham Castle last week in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen accompanied by His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh.
The event was part of the busy Jubilee Day which saw the Queen open the new Tyne Tunnel, host a Jamboree at Gateshead Stadium, lunch at Durham, and open the Tees White Water Course.
The Lunch event was organised jointly by Durham County Council, and Durham University. Many ordinary local people from all over the County were invited as part of the County’s recognition of community service.
David said it was a great honour to represent our area as the GAMP Area Action Partnership’s Durham County Chairman’s Medal nominee. To be sitting within feet of the Queen and the Duke and having lunch with them, was for a miner’s son from Boldon Colliery beyond his wildest dreams, a truly memorable day which he will never forget.
Both the Chairman’s Medal Award and this Lunch are a tremendous lift to the spirits of not only nominees like David, but his family, friends, and our communities.
As the Queen left everyone who was in Durham Castle came out onto the green to witness her departure. David sat on a seat on the green afterwards with the Cathedral and Castle as backgrounds on a gorgeous day, and just thought how lucky we all are to live in this County.
David says “It was very special, and the universal reaction to my story has been how marvellous that so many ordinary people were given this unique opportunity.
