Palace garden party honours

Wednesday 8th July 2009, 10:55AM BST.

Three soldiers from a Shropshire-based Army regiment were among the people from the county who mingled with royalty at a garden party at Buckingham Palace – and talked with Prince Andrew.

The men, from the Tern Hill-based 1st Battalion, the Royal Irish Regiment, were doubly pleased to meet their colonel-in-chief, Prince Andrew who spotted the emblem of their regiment on their berets yesterday.

The Duke of York welcomed Colour Sergeant John O’Neil, Sergeant Alistair McKinney and Warrant Officer Second Class Dominic “Brummie” Hagans. He said to them: “Really great to see you here this afternoon. This is the largest contingent here from the military.”

Sergeant McKinney was left paralysed down the left side of his body when he was shot by a Taliban sniper in Afghanistan two years ago.

The soldier, who uses a wheelchair, said he was proud to be there: “I find it a great honour to be here, it’s nice to be recognised for the contribution we’ve made.”

Among the others who travelled to London were Olive Brake and Lillian Burgwin, who were nominated for invitations to the garden party in recognition of their long service and dedication to the Salvation Army in Shrewsbury.

Between them, the pair have notched up more than a century with the organisation and were nominated for invitations by fellow members of their corps in Salters Lane, Coleham.

View more: Royal Irish Regiment news, Shrewsbury news.