Shropshire Star

Buckingham Palace party date for Oswestry's Bill Bowen

Oswestry's Bill Bowen was attending a Buckingham Palace Garden party today after receiving his British Empire Medal at the weekend.

Published
Bill Bowen at the breakfast club at St Oswald’s

The 87-year-old was presented with his BEM by the Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, Anna Turner, at a ceremony in the town's parish church on Sunday.

He was named in the New Year's Honours list for his services to the community, with more than half a century of involvement in organisations including the Oswestry Lions Club, St Oswald's Parish Church and the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital.

For many years he ran a weekly men's breakfast club at the church, regularly cooking up scores of meals in one sitting.

Mr Bowen will continue to be recognised for his work today as the guest of North Shropshire MP, Owen Paterson, at Westminster before being a guest at a garden party at Buckingham Palace.