TWO Kendal colleagues were amazed to be given seats at Westminster Abbey for this week's RAF centenary celebrations.

Amanda Robb and James Arrowsmith, who both work at Marks & Spencer, were among 2,200 guests at Wednesday's service attended by Her Majesty The Queen; Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge; and Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

Amanda described the occasion as "once in a lifetime". She and James were invited in recognition of the Kendal store's success at redistributing unsold food to charities such as Manna House in the town.

They originally had tickets to a reception at Horse Guards Parade, but two weeks ago they were excited to learn they were being upgraded to the Abbey service.

The colleagues, who are section leaders for hospitality and food, were seated near the front, just a dozen or so rows behind the Royal family and with a good view of Prime Minister Theresa May.

Sitting next to Amanda at the Abbey was Sir Michael Arthur, managing director of aircraft company Boeing, who she described as "lovely". The mum of two, whose younger son Josh is studying aeronautical engineering and is on a placement at Airbus, said it was amazing to sing God Save The Queen and to know the monarch was there.

"It was just a fantastic celebration," she told the Gazette. "I think we do pomp and ceremony fantastically. To be part of it was just exceptional."

After the service Amanda and James, whose grandparents met in the RAF, walked along streets lined with tourists to a reception at Horse Guards Parade.

In the skies above London they watched the spectacular RAF flypast, and they also had chance to view several aircraft close up, with Amanda sitting in the pilot's seat of a Chinook helicopter. A lunch of smoked salmon, pastrami brioche, fresh fruit pavlova and lemon tart added to an unforgettable day.

The RAF flypast was watched by up to 70,000 people and included the Red Arrows streaming red, white and blue smoke down The Mall. Twenty-two Typhoons spelled out "100".

In her brief speech, the Queen praised the air force for its "tenacity, skill and gallantry", and said: "I remember the Battle of Britain being fought over the skies above us and we shall never forget the courage and sacrifice of that time."