From pub to Palace: landlord's royal date

FUND-RAISING EFFORTS EARN INVITATION TO THE KING'S GARDEN PARTY

- By EVA MILLETT

THE landlord of a village pub was invited to a Royal Garden Party in recognition of his charity fund-raising efforts.

The invitation was a delightful bolt from the blue for Brian Priest, 71, who has run The Chequers, in Swinford, for 39 years.

"I didn't know anything about it," he said. "It was a total surprise. I got this letter from the Cabinet Office, opened it up and thought, 'What's this about?"

The invitation recognised Brian's fund-raising and community work over nearly four decades.

Since taking over The Chequers in 1985, he has helped raise thousands of pounds for causes including Diabetes UK, the British Heart Foundation, Loros hospice and PROSTaid.