Birmingham volunteer award winner attends Royal Garden Party

Birmingham volunteer Des Mucklowe, 76, has been recognised for his longstanding commitment to the community with an invite to last week’s Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.

Des who has volunteered for 16 years at ExtraCare’s New Oscott Retirement Village in Birmingham where he also lives, supports residents and staff in a range of roles that help the retirement village run smoothly. Des has lived at New Oscott since 2010 and was one of the first to move in. He spent 10 years on reception, welcoming visitors, helping residents with day‑to‑day queries, assisting with events and supporting the team. Taking on multiple roles Des is also known as ‘Mr Christmas’ as he dons a Father Christmas suit each year for a ‘Breakfast with Santa’ event to entertain residents, visitors and local children at the village in the festive season.

Des said: “It’s hard to put into words the whole experience of the occasion, having only seen the palace from afar as a 14-year-old to actually being inside at 76.

The whole experience was overwhelming, to be within the palace grounds, seeing the gardens and the guards up close, and hearing everyone applaud as the King and Queen came down the steps. It will live with us forever. I can’t express what a special day we had and what an honour it was to win the Liz Taylor Award too.”

Village Manager at New Oscott Village Michelle McCann comments: “Des will always help where and whenever he can at our village. It meant the world to Des and his family to be nominated. They made the most of London for a few days break. This was a well-deserved nomination. In his words an ‘experience of a lifetime time that he and his family will always remember’.”