A SOUTH Lakeland charity founder has been invited to Buckingham Palace to attend a Royal garden party in the presence of the Queen.

Jonny Gios, the founder of Hope Community, a new charity which helps churches engage with their communities better in Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire areas, will attend the May event.

Mr Gios, who will be attending the party with his wife Pamela, said he did not know why he had been nominated although he speculated that it could be because of the help he gave the local community during the devastating Storm Desmond floods.

"It is humbling to be nominated and to share this experience with 10,000 people. We hope to get a glimpse of the Queen if not get up close.”

Historically, Royal garden parties took the place of presentation parties attended by debutants, and have evolved into a way of recognising and rewarding public service.

Throughout the country, a long-established network of sponsors including lord-lieutenants, societies, Government departments, local government, the church and other faiths is used to invite the guests.

At the garden party, the guests are free to eat, drink and stroll around the palace gardens and have a chance to speak with Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Mr Gios, a former community worker at Sandylands Methodist Church, said: “I am looking forward to the food but I will be happy to sacrifice eating in order to stand by the staircase and get a glimpse of the Queen when she arrives.

“I will be buying a new suit, and my wife is on a lookout for a new hat.”

The Hope Community will be launched at Capernwray Hall, near Carnforth, on February 18 at 2pm.

For more information see www.hope-community.uk