VETERAN church helper John Wilkinson is to get the greatest honour of his life - a gift from the Queen.

John, 87, of Edisford Bridge, Great Mitton, will be at Bradford Cathedral on Maundy Thursday, March 27, to meet the Queen and receive the traditional Maundy Money purse of specially minted silver coins.

The coins will add up to a face value of 71p to mark the Queen's 71st year and Mr Wilkinson will be one of 71 men and 71 women to receive the honour.

Mr Wilkinson said: "It is a great honour and means more to me than if the Queen were to give me a knighthood!"

Mr Wilkinson is modest about his community work and added: "I have received a lot back for myself from working to help other people and now that I am not quite as active, I find that there are many people who are helping me."

Mr Wilkinson's connections with All Hallows Church, Mitton, stretch back to his teenage days.

His duties have included bell ringing, acting as a sidesman and serving on the Parochial Church Council.

He is also chairman of Ribble Valley Conservation Group.

He added: "The Maundy honour is a recognition of achievements of my past, because I am hindered with my eyesight at the moment, but it is an honour nonetheless." Mr Wilkinson and other Maundy money recipients were nominated by senior clergymen from their own areas then shortlisted by Buckingham Palace.

The centuries-old ceremony is usually held in London but the Queen has agreed to travel to Bradford to mark the city's centenary.

Mr Wilkinson will be handed a white purse of coins by the Queen and will also receive a red purse, traditionally containing an allowance of £5.50 for clothing and food.

The tradition of Royal Maundy is an act of service by the Sovereign which was inspired by the Gospel accounts of the Last Supper in which Jesus washed the feet of his disciples.

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