LOCAL youth worker Julie Hilling has been to London to see the Queen!

She rubbed shoulders with royalty at Buckingham Palace's annual garden party on Thursday.

The visit came just weeks after she stepped down as national president of the Community and Youth Workers Union (CYWU).

Julie, 44, has worked with the youth of Leigh, Lowton and Golborne for over 13 years.

She has also been active in many local and national campaigns - including Women against Pit Closures at Parkside Colliery and the campaign for a statutory base for the youth service.

The staunch Labour Party woman originally hails from Bedfordshire but she now lives in Atherton, where she is branch secretary of Hindsford Labour Party and vice chair of Worsley constituency.

"I'm very honoured to be invited to the Palace in recognition of the work of all members of the CYWU," said Julie.

"Although we are a small specialist Union, over the last eight years we've become significant players in the trade union movement.

"We now meet regularly with the Government and are working with them to get the best deal for young people and our communities.

"My invitation to the garden party is a tribute to all the work of youth and community workers nationally."

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