AT a recent reception held at St James Palace in London the Duke of York congratulated the Friends of High Royds Memorial Garden on what has become a nationally recognised achievement.

Chairman Ron Sweeney, Hon Secretary Quentin Mackenzie and Management Committee member Alan Storey were invited, together with other Yorkshire Award winners from the county, for afternoon tea in the State Apartments of the Palace of St James after receiving the invitation from Buckingham Palace. Prince Andrew was impressed by the work carried out on the former derelict chapel and paupers graveyard in Menston which in addition to creating what has been described as “an oasis of peace and tranquillity “ is also helping at a local level to combat the discrimination still suffered by those with mental ill-health problems.

Whilst talking to the Duke Dr Sweeney mentioned that the recent involvement of Prince William and Prince Harry in supporting the Heads Together campaign has given fresh impetus to the discussions on mental health but, as the Duke of York said in his opening address: “it is often difficult to initiate change at a national level and it is involvement at the local level that is so important.” The Duke later emphasised the importance of local commitment when he said “Congratulations and well done” to the volunteers involved in the Memorial Garden project.

A Certificate of Achievement was presented at the University of Huddersfield (of which the Duke is the Chancellor) by Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire Dr Ingrid Roscoe and now after the Palace reception a special plaque is being prepared for the Memorial Garden grounds.