Residents of Beane River View, a sheltered housing scheme in Port Vale, Hertford enjoyed a rather special afternoon tea recently, when the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire and the Chairman of East Hertfordshire Council came along and joined them.

Scheme manager, Janis Dell invited Her Majesty The Queen to afternoon tea on behalf of her residents and was staggered to receive a reply from the Palace indicating that The Queen’s representative, The Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire The Countess of Verulam would attend on her behalf.

The Countess was accompanied by Cllr Mrs Dianne Hollebon, Chairman of East Hertfordshire Council and they were greeted on arrival by residents Rose Chappell and Margaret Bennett who have both received medals from The Queen in recognition of their work in the Women’s Land Army during the Second World War.

All the residents from the scheme dressed up for the occasion with some even sporting the medals they received for their efforts in the Second World War. Some baked cakes especially for the occasion.

The Countess and Cllr Hollebon made a great effort to involve everyone and spoke to all the residents and staff individually.

Mrs Bennett said: “It was lovely to meet the Countess and Cllr Hollebon, it was very nice of them to spend so much time talking to us all.”

Mrs Dell said: “We are thrilled that The Countess and Cllr Hollebon found the time to join us. It has certainly been a day that residents and staff will remember for years to come.”