It might not have been an invitation to the big Royal Wedding day but a letter of thanks from Buckingham Palace still left an Old Colwyn pensioner thrilled.
Edna Parker, 69, lives at Kennedy Court, Old Colwyn which is sheltered accommodation, of 34 flats, run by Cartrefi Conwy; the largest registered social landlord in the County of Conwy.
And the former hospital cleaner decided to write to Buckingham Palace to wish Prince William and Catherine Middleton all the very best for their special day and to invite the soon-to-be-married couple to drop in for a game of tombola at Kennedy Court’s Bingo Club.
Edna says she never expected a reply but was delighted when a letter of thanks dropped through her letterbox.
She said: “I didn’t know the address for Buckingham Palace so I just put Buckingham Palace, London on the envelope and posted it. It must have got there though because they have written back to thank me.
“I wanted to wish Prince William all the best for his big day and to say it’s a pity his mum can’t be there; Princess Diana would have loved it. I got everyone at our Bingo Club to sign the card before I posted it.
“I also put in the card that as they only live on Anglesey why don’t they pop in for a game of bingo at our club when they are passing through Old Colwyn?
“Anyway, the letter I received back from the Palace says thanks for the invite so whether they will come or not, I don’t know.”
Edna has had her special Royal letter of thanks framed and it now takes pride of place on the wall of the Kennedy Court Community Room where the weekly Bingo Club meets.
She said: “I’m really happy in Kennedy Court as I have all my friends around me and we all enjoy the Bingo Club as well as meeting up for tea and biscuits in the community room to play dominoes.
“Our warden, Roger Hughes, is fantastic and really looks after us, he’s so helpful. I used to live in Bristol but moved to North Wales 20 years ago to be near my late brother.”
Maureen Maxwell, the relief warden at Kennedy Court, said: “We are all delighted for Edna who had the initiative to write a good luck card for Prince William and Kate Middleton. Edna is such a lovely person and always so helpful and is always volunteering to help with the dishes after bingo has finished.
“All the residents are thrilled to have the letter framed and on display in the community room for everyone to see. It was touching that St James’ Palace took the trouble to reply on behalf of Buckingham Palace, it certainly made a lot of pensioners very happy.”
