‘I had a lovely day’: Nurse enjoys special birthday invite at Buckingham Palace

A 69-year-old nurse enjoyed a special birthday after she was invited to a garden party at Buckingham Palace hosted by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.

Sonia Denny, from Thurston, near Bury St Edmunds, is a member of the community early intervention team (EIT) at the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust and was one of many invitees recognised for their work in public and voluntary services.

Sonia, whose birthday was on May 21, was accompanied to London by her husband Richard and daughter Beckie Rolfe, who is a nurse with the trust’s community heart failure team.

She said: “It was a shame the weather was so awful. There were a lot of people who had no coat or umbrella and were soaked through, but thankfully I bought myself an umbrella before I went in and took my coat as the weather had been forecast.

“Even so my fascinator and pink shoes are ruined, but I did have a lovely day, and was honoured to be asked and privileged to be there.

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“I did not see any of the royal family as there were thousands of people with umbrellas trying to see them too, understandably.

“For me the best part of the day was having Richard and Beckie with me, and the people I met. The bands and music were lovely, and the gardens (although slightly flooded), but that didn’t dampen our spirits.”

In 1972, Sonia joined West Suffolk Hospital as a cadet nurse aged 17 and is still working at the hospital in its new location, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Last year, she received a long-service trophy for her many years of service as a nurse.

At the time, Sonia said: “I look back and realise what a privilege it has been to be in people’s lives and be welcomed into their homes.

“I feel very humbled to care for people at the times in their lives when they show such courage and strength.

“It’s the best job in the world. I appreciate it every day.”

Sonia is considering retirement towards the end of this year, but for now is still carrying on her work nursing people in their own homes.

The EIT aims to prevent hospital admission and help people live well and independently for longer.