A West Lothian charity has received a special thank you message from The Queen.
West Lothian 50+ Network have received the message for the handcrafted card they sent to celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee last month.
The commerative card was made by the network’s Craft for Enjoyment group, run by member Elizabeth Florence, to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
The card was sent from Bathgate at the beginning of last month, and the 50+ network had a response from Buckingham Palace, just a month after they sent it.
Craft for Enjoyment members made the coloured decorative paper for the card from scratch.
The members use the handmade paper to create personal cards and accessories with the support of other members.
The acknowledgement, now framed at the network’s new headquarters, reads: “I send you my grateful thanks for your kind message on the occasion of the seventieth anniversary of my accession to the throne.”
This wasn’t the only way the network celebrated the Queen’s jubilee - as members celebrated with an afternoon tea at the beginning of June, which quickly turned into a street party with members dancing the slosh.
Delighted with the response, the member-led Craft for Enjoyment group have already got to work preparing Christmas cards for all of the over 600 members at the network.
West Lothian 50+ Network trustee,Sue Bedford-Visser, said:”The Craft for Enjoyment group are a valuable part of our network in West Lothian.
“Like all of our groups they are run entirely be members and they engage in a number of arts and crafts projects.
“They’re always really busy supporting our community - like by sending out cards to our members in hospital and bereavement cards.
“They’ve already got started on the handmade Christmas cards for all of our members in the 50+ network - there’s over 600 of us now so it’s quite the undertaking!
“At our monthly members meetings we also sell some of their handcrafted cards, which supports the network with funding.
The Craft for Enjoyment group meets every Friday morning to participate in arts and crafts and mingle with other members.
Crafts are one small part of the West Lothian 50+ Network, with many groups open to anyone over 50 in the local community.
Currently the network is trying to expand to Armadale, Broxburn, Uphall, and other smaller towns and villages around West Lothian.
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