A LUNCHEON club which has been offer-ing a lifeline to the elderly and lonely in Nelson has received a Royal stamp of approval.

For 15 years hard-working volunteers have been offering the chance for people at St John’s Church, Barkerhouse Road, to have a nibble and a natter every Thursday.

And now the St John’s club is set to receive the Queen’s Award for volunteering for their selfless efforts.

Four long-standing members will also attend a garden party with the Queen at Buckingham Palace next week.

Founder member Peggy Miller said: “Someone nominated us for the award last year, but we didn’t get through to the final stages.

“But this meant that we automatically were enter-ed this year and we were told we’d won it.

“To us it is just a job that we do though.”

Only one of three winners in the North West, the St John’s contingent will be presented with their distinction by the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, Lord Shuttleworth, on July 9 in Preston.

Two days earlier Peggy will be joined by colleagues Kathleen Rowley, Kathleen Halstead and Betty Bowling for the palace date.

Work on hosting the luncheon club begins as early as 9.30am and the last meals are usually being cleared away arou-nd 2.30pm.

While numbers have fluctuated down the years, there are now around 14, with volunteers attend-ing according to their commitments.

Peggy added: “We are very pleased at the award obviously.

“But we are just doing something which is right for our community.

“All of us have been attending St John’s for a number of years and it’s nice to see the same faces coming to the club every week.”