A right Royal occasion for Charlotte
Date of release: 24 May 2024
“I am very fortunate in that I love my job, so to have the recognition of representing my profession at something so prestigious as a Royal garden party was wonderful.”
Charlotte Colesby in the fascinator with Janet McGookin in the hat at Buckingham Palace. Janet represented the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)
Charlotte Colesby, Service Manager for Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT), was a guest at a Royal garden party attended by members of the Royal Family this week.
Charlotte, 54, saw the Prince of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Zara Tindall and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie at the glitzy event at Buckingham Palace.
And the rain failed to dampen the spirits of the mum of two, who was joined by Janet McGookin, who represented the organisation of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT).
“It rained throughout so my see-through umbrella was a godsend and I had a fabulous time,” said Charlotte. “I only saw glimpses of the Royals but it was still nice to see them.
“It’s really something you wouldn’t expect to have the chance to do ordinarily, so I’m very proud – it feels like a dream.”
Guests were treated to afternoon tea in a giant marquee in the gardens at the back of the Palace while they listened to The Band of the Household Cavalry and the Central Band of the RAF.
“It was an interesting mix of very formal and informal,” added Charlotte. “People were dressed up and there were some really important people there, then the Household Cavalry played more traditional songs and the national anthem when the Royals came in.
“But then the RAF band, which played near the lake, played pop songs from The Beatles and Coldplay and songs from shows.
“The gardens are huge – like a park – and you could wander all around them. The food was delicious and the staff were very friendly.”
The invite came through the RCSLT of which Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, is the Patron.
Charlotte was one of only two with Janet from the 20,000-strong RCSLT to be invited to the gala event, to which 2,000-3,000 guests attended.
She received the invite in thanks for her work with the RCSLT on influencing, leadership and workforce. She made national news in a campaign promoting SLTs in April 2023.
Charlotte has been an observer to the cross-party Parliamentary group for SLTs, meeting MPs and peers in the House of Lords, which she started before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The mum of two grown-up children, who lives in Stourbridge, has been at RWT since November 2017, leading a team of 78 staff, based at The Gem Centre in Wednesfield, near New Cross Hospital.
And she says her invite has boosted her colleagues. “People have been so pleased for me and I think it has given the whole team a lift,” said Charlotte.
ENDS
- For further information, please call Tim Nash on 07714 741097 or email tim.nash2@nhs.net
