Newark man among the 96 selected to receive Maundy Money at Royal service in Windsor

A Newark man was selected to receive Maundy Money from Prince Charles.

Frank Goulding, 78, attended the Royal Maundy Service at St George's chapel in Windsor with his niece Georgina Goulding.

One man and one woman for each year of the monarch’s age is chosen to receive the money.

Historically chosen due to poverty, recipients are now selected by their diocese for their work in the church or community.

Frank attends and works at Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Boundary Road.

Frank said: “I do think there are far more worthy people than me who could have received this ­— but I am very privileged and very grateful for the opportunity to go to Windsor Castle.”

He was presented the two purses by Prince Charles. A red purse ­— representing allowances for clothing, provisions and redemption of the sovereign’s gown ­— contains a £5 coin and a 50p coin portraying the Queen’s platinum jubilee, and the white purse had Maundy Money to the value of the monarch’s age, in one, two three and four pence coins.

Mr Goulding said: “Once I got over the shock it was a wonderful day with my niece as my companion. It really was a wonderful experience.

“It was really British pageantry at it’s best. We had not only the Yeoman of the Guard present, but also the military knights of Windsor. There was a tremendous amount of pageantry there.

“In the Queen’s procession, among others, there was the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.”

After the service, recipients attended a reception in the castle where they had the opportunity to talk to the military knights and meet other attendees from across the country.

“You simply didn’t want it to end,” Frank said. “The pageantry was absolutely magnificent.

“I try to live a quiet life, but this was anything but quiet, but what a very special day it was.”