Janet Bracegirdle invited to Queen’s garden party for community work in Wardle village

An established member of the Wardle community was recently invited to a garden party at Buckingham Palace for her community involvement.

Janet Bracegirdle and her son, Leyton, attended one of the Queen’s annual May garden parties after being invited for her hard work in the village over the years.

Mrs Bracegirdle, who also met up with Rochdale’s Mayor and Mayoress, Billy and Lynn Sheerin, at the event, said: “I felt very honoured to receive the invite; it was an amazing day and experience.

“I feel very honoured to have been nominated to attend the garden party, but don’t know why I was nominated or by whom.”

 

 

A founder member of Wardle Support Group for Springhill Hospice before it was built, Mrs Bracegirdle has also been involved in the village playgroup, the PTA of St. James Primary School and Wardle High School, Wardle High School Band Committee, the now-disbanded Wardle Amateur Dramatic Group, parent committee for the local scout group and the Women's Royal Voluntary Service when Birch Hill was a hospital.

Mrs Bracegirdle has lived in Wardle for 50 years, joining the Wardle Wives group, of which she is secretary.

Originally, Wardle Wives was connected to the local church before breaking away as Wardle Young Wives, before returning to Wardle Wives.

She said: “A new housing estate was built in the village at the time; all being young and newcomers to the village, we decided to join Wardle Wives, which was connected to the local church, as we wanted to be involved in the village life.

“This year Wardle Wives will be 50 years old; a friendship which we have all retained and treasure.

“A few years later we broke away from the church and started our own group. We still called ourselves Wardle Young Wives.  I became secretary and still carry out the task to this day 50 years on, but we are now called Wardle Wives, as none of us are young anymore.”

Over the years, Wardle Wives has donated to many projects for the former Birch Hill Hospital, Springhill Hospice, local carnivals and village bonfires, local school, and village organisations.

The group will be celebrating its 50th anniversary later this year.