A LOCAL veteran and community champion was delighted to meet the Queen at the Royal Garden Party in the Palace of Holyrood.

Paul Coffey was nominated by local Councillor Jim Montgomerie and were among other special guests at Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.

Jim said: “Paul has been a huge asset to our community throughout the years, especially helping veterans throughout the Three Towns area. Paul has been an advocate and voice for local veterans and more recently along with his wife Josephine set up a Veteran breakfast club here in Saltcoats.

“The club has grown from strength to strength as a result of the sheer enthusiasm and dedication Paul has put into helping our local veterans in the area find friendship and a social area which everyone thoroughly enjoys.

“I had no doubt in my mind about who to nominate and am pleased they were chosen to attend such a prestigious event for all there hard work and contributions to our community. I look forward to what the future holds for Paul and the veterans”.

Paul said: “My wife and I were delighted to have been invited to the garden party by The Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran, Mr John Duncan, for our voluntary and charity contributions to the community.

“We heard so many wonderful things about the event from our fellow veteran Suzanne Fernando, who attended the garden party last year.

“We are extremely grateful to Jim Montgomerie for the nomination”.

“We spent a relaxed afternoon where we enjoyed a lovely cup of tea, some sandwiches and cakes, and saw the Queen, Prince Philip, Duke of York and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

“It truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we both thoroughly enjoyed our day at the palace.”