West Sussex residents receive Maundy Purse from Queen Camilla

Patricia Barrett and Peter Campbell both went up to Worcester for a ceremony to receive their award, the Maundy Purse, on Thursday.

The Queen Camilla presented Patricia and Peter with their purses at a ceremony in Worcester Cathedral.

For more than 70 years, HRH Queen Elizabeth marked the Royal Maundy Service, and the tradition has continued every year since.

The Maundy Purse (Image: Worcester Cathedral/James Atkinson)

The Queen thanked them for their help in their communities.

People across the country have been selected from the Church of England dioceses.

Patricia, 87, from Lancing, was head sacristan and parochial church council member at St Michael and All Angels, Lancing, for over two decades. 

Patricia Barrett received the Maundy Purse (Image: Worcester Cathedral/James Atkinson)

She has been involved in church life since 1965 when living in London before she moved down to the South Coast in 2002.  

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Reverend Felix Smith, the vicar at St Michael and All Angels, said: “Patricia is a model of selfless service to parish and community. She would help wherever needed, whether setting up for events, getting people to church, talking to newcomers or running a group for lonely over-60s.”

Queen Camilla presented Patricia with her award (Image: Worcester Cathedral/James Atkinson)

On the Maundy Purse award Patricia said: “I’m absolutely thrilled. It is even better than getting an OBE. 

“I’m in a wheelchair due to my osteoarthritis, so my daughter, Judith Short, took me and she had a ticket to the cathedral service as well. My son drove us both.”

Peter, 81, has lived in Littlehampton all his life.

He has attended St Mary's, Littlehampton, for as long as he can remember.

“I’ve been a server for 65 years come the end of April. Before that I was a choir boy until my voice broke,” he said.

“I was shocked when I saw the letter from Buckingham Palace. I could not believe it.”

The recipients were presented with a red purse and a white purse. The white purse contains a set of minted silver Maundy coins and the red purse contains commemorative coins.