Dedicated Shropshire volunteer joins Prince and Princess of Wales at Christmas carol service

Louise Ferguson, Tennis Shropshire’s lifetime achievement award winner in the annual LTA Tennis Awards earlier this year, enjoyed a memorable trip to London after being invited to The Together At Christmas Carol Service.

Attended by The Prince and Princess of Wales and other members of the Royal Family, Louise was delighted to be invited to the service held at Westminster Abbey earlier this month.

A dedicated volunteer at Newport’s Boughey Gardens Tennis Club for more than 40 years, Louise was one of 1,600 people who have supported others in their communities to receive the honour.

“It was an absolutely amazing day from start to finish,” said Louise. “The whole service was very good and very moving.”

The Westminster Abbey Choir performed carols, alongside musical performances by guests including Gregory Porter and Paloma Faith.

Readings linked to the theme of love and empathy were delivered by speakers including The Prince of Wales.

Louise, who lives in Newport, received an e-mail from the LTA at the start of October saying she had been nominated to attend the service in recognition of her lifetime achievement award.

Initially told she was not able to share the exciting news with anyone, Louise then received an official invitation from Buckingham Palace towards the end of November when she was then allowed to tell her friends that she was heading to the capital to attend the service.

Louise added: “It was an honour to be nominated and then absolutely wonderful to attend. It was a real privilege. 

“This all started with Liz Boyle setting the ball rolling by contacting Sue Rutter from Boughey, who in turn nominated me for the award. Tennis Shropshire has played a huge part as it just snowballed from there. I wasn’t expecting anything like this.

“On the day, we had to start queueing up at Westminster Abbey at around 3.30pm. It was quite a long queue, but when you’re chatting to people and listening to their stories the time passes, and it was a lovely day.

“We had colour coded invitations for the Abbey. I had a yellow one and was sat in the main body of the aisle, so was two rows back from the front.

"I could see all the people arriving, the dignitaries, celebrities and, of course, The Royal Family.”

Louise and the other guests received a special letter from the Princess of Wales, along with the Order of Service from Westminster Abbey, another lovely souvenir of such a memorable occasion.

Louise has held a number of voluntary roles on the Boughey Gardens Tennis Club committee during her long association with her local club.

She has been the club’s publicity officer, match secretary, membership secretary, second team captain and welfare officer.

After being chosen as the winner of Tennis Shropshire’s lifetime achievement award in January, more recognition then came Louise’s way when she was selected as the regional winner in the category for the Midlands.

The Together at Christmas Carol Service will be broadcast on ITV1 on Christmas Eve.