A Biddulph woman has been invited to attend King Charles III’s coronation at Westminster Abbey next Saturday (6th May).
Thirty-two-year-old Hannah Findlay BEM (British Empire Medal) thought the invitation she received in an email was a “prank” at first until she investigated and was informed that a handful of those who had received the honour were invited to attend “a moment in history”.
Mrs Findlay was awarded a BEM in the late Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2021 for her work co-ordinating 21 Co-op stores to deliver much-needed items to frontline workers at five local hospitals, 20 nursing homes, two police stations and one fire station during the pandemic.
At the time she worked as a store manager at a Co-op in Crewe, but has since been promoted to work for the company’s head office in Manchester.
Speaking about receiving the coronation invite, the mum-of-one said: ““I got an email to attend, and I thought it was a prank email again, until I rang them, and they said, ‘no it’s a genuine’.
“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and I will be representing Biddulph and everything I am a part of – the Co-op, Biddulph Running Club and Kingsfield First School where I’m a governor.”
The school has already asked Mrs Findlay to come and speak to pupils about her being a witness of history.
She continued: “I will be in the congregation, it’s just exciting to be in the Abbey and the atmosphere is going to be something quite surreal.
“For me it’s all about witnessing a moment in history and being able to tell my daughter about it who can’t wait to watch it on telly and spot me in the crowd!”
All that Mrs Findlay has been told about arrangements on the day of the coronation is that she needs to be at Westminster Abbey for 7am next Saturday – four hours prior to the start of the ceremony when King Charles III will be crowned.
The invitation reads: “The coronation of their majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla, by command of the King the Earl Marshal is directed to invite Mrs Hannah Findlay to be present at the Abbey Church of Westminster on the 6th day of May 2023.”
Speaking about the invitation she added: “It’s stunning! I’ve seen people put it online but it’s even more beautiful in person. It’s beyond an invitation really, it needs framing.”
(Photo: Hannah Findley).
