Derby College Group manager enjoys the King’s first Royal Garden Party

A Derby College manager is delighted to have achieved a once-in-a-lifetime experience, after attending one of the first Royal Garden Parties to be hosted by His Majesty King Charles III.

Jon Collins, Head of Land-Based Studies at Derby College, was among a select number of people who recently attended a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. The King and Queen and also the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were present at the garden party. The royals paused at the top of the steps before making their way down into the garden to meet the guests who had been carefully chosen.

Mr Collins was able to enjoy a relaxing afternoon mingling with fellow guests, enjoying refreshments and exploring the Palace grounds.

Mr Collins was nominated to attend the garden party by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Derbyshire, Mrs. Elizabeth Fothergill CBE, in recognition of his services to the local community. Mr Collins has been a driver for the development of Little Park Wood, situated in the grounds of Derby College’s Broomfield Hall in Morley.

Little Park Wood was created last year as part of the national Green Canopy programme, which marked the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Derby College is planning to plant 1000 trees within the woodland over the next five years.

Mr Collins said: “It was such a lovely event and I am so very proud to have been a guest of honour at the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. This was a wonderful and unique opportunity, and I especially enjoyed the Palace Gardens.

“The development of Little Park Wood has really been a team effort involving colleagues and students at Derby College and I am really pleased that the work we have undertaken to contribute to the Green Canopy initiative has been recognised and acknowledged in this way. Little Park Wood will stand as a living legacy to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and I hope it will continue to be enjoyed and appreciated by many generations to come.”

Images: John Collins with his wife Ms Stephanie Meadows at Buckingham Palace