A Ledbury woman inspired by her mum to give residents a place to share old photos of the town is heading to a garden party at Buckingham Palace.
Jo Edge started the Old Ledbury website and Facebook group 10 years ago and it is this contribution to the community that earned her an invitation.
It is an honour that should have taken place two years ago as the royal garden party was originally planned for May 2020.
As with many other events, the party was cancelled because of Covid but Jo is very much looking forward to the rearranged event - and admits the initial invite was far from expected.
“I was shocked, pleasantly surprised and of course I am very honoured to represent my town, where I was born,” she said.
Jo was inspired to launch OId Ledbury after seeing the positive effect old photos could have on people.
“In July 2009 my mother Audrey was diagnosed with Alzheimers,” she said. “I then realised how important memories were.
“We got the old photos out, off we went on a magical tour of the past. We started our family tree and made contact with family we never knew we had.
“I started to think ‘what happens when I get old, who could I share memories of Ledbury with?’ so I decided to create this site where we can share magical Ledbury memories together.”
Jo initially launched the site with a mixture of family photos and pictures from 1965 and 1966 from what was then called the Ledbury Reporter and Guardian.
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Soon people started sharing their own photographs and memories of Ledbury. The Facebook group currently has more than 4,700 members and is growing all the time.
Jo said her mum, who passed away in August 2020, would have loved the garden party.
She will be accompanied to the event, which takes place at Buckingham Palace on May 18, by her partner Chris Morag.
News of the invitation has, of course, been shared on the Old Ledbury group, with dozens of users quick to say the honour is well deserved and hoping Jo and Chris have a wonderful time on the day.
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