A Woodley man has been invited to a royal garden party at Buckingham Palace for his positive contribution to the town during the pandemic.

Ronnie Goodberry, 62, set up a food drive which saw 237,402 items donated to those who needed it most after Covid-19 hit the UK.

As a key coordinator of the Woodley Volunteer For Our Community Facebook group, he helped orchestrate a team of 400 volunteers making sure every vulnerable person in the area had access to shopping and prescriptions.

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“To be honest it was a complete surprise,” said Ronnie, after finding out he would be attending the party on June 4, during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

“I’m very humbled, I’m very honoured to have been nominated and it was a pure shock.”

He continued: “The hard work and effort over the last two years has been recognized so it’s good.”

The palace hosts three garden parties each summer and the attendees are decided by a network of sponsors including Lord-Lieutenants, Societies and Associations, Government Departments, Local Government, the Services, the Church and other Faiths.

Ronnie said he had been nominated by Wokingham Mayor Keith Baker.

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It has been reported the Queen is to miss the royal garden party season and will be represented by other members of the family.

This will not be the first time Ronnie has been recognized for his efforts, winning Smile of the Year at the Pride of Reading Award in December for his dedication to the happiness of others.

His concern for others has not been limited to Woodley, or even the country, as Ronnie continues to collect donations for refugees fleeing Ukraine.

In the days after Putin’s invasion, Ronnie pivoted the focus of his Facebook group to the victim’s of the war, campaigning for donations of medical supplies and food, before organizing their delivery to Ukraine.