The Lord Provost the Rt Hon Donald Wilson held his second Community Garden party on Friday.

Two Edinburgh charities LifeCare Edinburgh and Duddingston Kirk Lunch Club, which support the independence and wellbeing of older people in Edinburgh, were presented with ‘Queen’s Awards for Voluntary Service’ by the Lord Provost Donald Wilson at the celebration.

They were joined by a guest list featuring dedicated workers from the city’s third sector, community council members, Edinburgh British Empire Medal recipients and local philanthropists in the grounds of Lauriston Castle as a ‘thank you’ for their contribution to community life.

The event is sponsored by Virgin Money.

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The Lord Provost held a Community Garden Party at Lauriston Castle where he handed over two Queen's Awards for Voluntary Services to Lifecare and to Duddingston Kirk Lunch Club.

The Big Project who entertained the guests
The Big Project who entertained the guests

Professor Kate Darling and Mr Ian Darling OBE
Professor Kate Darling Honorary Fellow at University of Edinburgh and Mr Ian Darling OBE. Mr Darling received his OBE for services to bird conservation and land management.
The Lord Provost The Rt Hon Donald Wilson hands over the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service to Mrs Margaret Sinclair and Mrs Betty Fisher from Duddingston Kirk Lunch Club. This is the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. The ladies represented the group of volunteers who have run the lunch club at Duddingston Kirk every week for 23 years. Twenty four people attend the club, but along with all the helpers who cook and drive those who attend there are about 40 people there. Mrs Fisher on the right is the cook and has been there since the first day. She thinks that people like her fish and chips and her roast beef. Also her trifle is a bit of a treat!
Caroline Heywood and Su Miller from Lifecare an Edinburgh charity which supports the independence and wellbeing of older people including those with dementia and people who are housebound.
The Lord Provost handed over a second Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the equivalent of an MBE, to Caroline Heywood and Su Miller from Lifecare an Edinburgh charity which supports the independence and wellbeing of older people including those with dementia and people who are housebound.
Representatives from Duddingston Kirk lunch club
The Lady Provost Ms Elaine Brand chatting to guests
The Lord Provost with invited Provosts and the High Constables
The Lord Provost with invited Provosts and the High Constables
The beautiful croquet lawn
The beautiful croquet lawn

Phyllis Stephen
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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.

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