PATRIOTIC ponchos, a Pimm’s picnic and pictures with a princess marked the Queen’s 90th birthday lunch for a few special guests in Oxfordshire.

A very honoured few from the county had the privilege of being invited along to Her Majesty’s patron lunch on The Mall on Sunday – including assisted reading charity ARCh, based in Bicester, and Donnington’s Falcon Rowing and Canoe Club.

One lucky headteacher, from St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, also managed to not only secure tickets in the public ballot but on the day nabbed a selfie with a royal as well.

The select few were among 10,000 people to descend onto The Mall for the largest ever street party.

Guests enjoyed a foodpacked hamper, a carnival-style procession from Horse Guards Parade and travelling along The Mall before turning at the Queen Victoria Memorial and a walk along from the members of the royal family before Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh joined in an open top car.

ONE lucky headteacher from Oxford’s St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School had the chance of a lifetime on Sunday when she came face to face for a selfie with a royal.

Sue Tomskys and her daughter Gemma Tuck were given tickets to the Queen’s birthday lunch on The Mall through the public ballot and hoped to represent the school for the day.

Youngsters at the Oxford primary had been beavering away on creating a crown to be worn by Ms Tomskys on the day among the royal surroundings close to Buckingham Palace.

Never did she imagine that she would end up in a selfie with Princess Beatrice and be able to show her the handywork of her schoolchildren back home.

Ms Tomskys said: “I really wanted to get the school involved in the celebrations, so we had the children design a hat for myself and Gemma to wear to the Parton’s lunch.

“The best designs were chosen and those children worked with our design technology teachers to produce a collaboration of their designs.

“Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice walked down from the start of The Mall, Princes Beatrice saw the hats and asked about them so I asked if we could have a photo.

“She was really willing to talk and I just wanted to get a picture for the children but never expected that.”

The pair enjoyed the picnic hampers and parade whilst belting out a chorus of Happy Birthday with the crowd as The Queen went past.

Ms Tomskys added: “I just wanted to be part of something historical and at the school we also held a picnic for the Queen’s birthday.”

Oxford Mail:

AFTER winning the Queen’s Award for voluntary service, charity ARCh was invited along to the biggest street party hosted by Her Majesty in honour of her 90th birthday.

Elaine Adams and Jane Rendle, development managers with the children’s assisted reading charity, joined thousands to pull up a seat and dine in the presence of the Queen.

Tables were lined up along The Mall and hampers, including salmon, Pimm’s and pudding, handed out to everyone.

Mrs Adams said: “We were awarded the Queen’s Award for voluntary service by the Lord Lieutenant Tim Stevenson and he had to chose about eight organisations to invite along to The Mall.

“It was absolutely amazing, although it started with torrential rain so everyone was given ponchos.

“But when it got to about 3pm the sun came out as The Queen left Buckingham Palace for the parade.

“Everyone took their ponchos off and you started to see all the red, white and blue outfits come out – it was as if the Queen had shone light on the whole parade.

“Our whole table sang Happy Birthday as she came past.”

The charity duo were sitting near the Buckingham Palace end and spotted Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Prince Andrew .

Mrs Adams said it was a great honour to get so close and that the royals were very happy to talk to everyone and find out about the charities they were representing as they went by.

Plus the picnic baskets proved a hit as well with chicken roulade salad, pork pies and Pimm’s.

Oxford Mail:

MEMBERS from Oxford’s only dual rowing and kayaking club heading along to The Mall for the Queen’s birthday lunch after a special invite.

The Falcon Rowing and Canoe Club were special guests the Her Majesty’s celebrations and representing the group was president Peter Travis and treasurer Becci Morris, pictured.

The group were invited along as recipients of the Queen’s Award for volunteers in 2012.

Mr Travis said: “We started off the day trying to shelter from the rain, you weren’t allowed umbrellas and there were very strict security.

“But we were given ponchos and everybody was very stoic.

“We were quite near to Buckingham Palace among thousands, we were lucky to have the complimentary tickets.

“We had a very smart hamper and it was great to get so close to the royals, the young royals walked the whole length of The Mall.

“The Queen and the Duke came up in the open top car, but we were definitely within touching distance of the other royals.”

The Falcon Rowing and Canoe Club received the invitation through the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire Tim Stevenson after the Queen’s Award win in 2012.

The club believes it was the first of its kind to be handed out to a boat club in the area.

Mr Travis added: “Clubs like Falcon make a huge unsung contribution to the quality of life for a lot of people and we are not very good at telling people about it.

“I think it is nice that this has recognised that for so many.”

STUDENTS from LVS Oxford school had one of “the most exciting days” of their lives after dining like a Queen along The Mall for Her Majesty’s 90th birthday.

The school, specialising in autism, Aspergers and dyslexia took along students Eddie Dancer and Holly Balchin plus staff for one of the biggest ever street parties.

Although the day began with heavy rain and a sea of ponchos, the sun lifted for the parade and youngster Eddie was ecstatic to watch the marching band go by followed by the royal family and Her Majesty.

He said: “This is one of the most exciting days of my life.

“I cannot believe I saw the Queen up so close.”

The duo were invited along for their hard work and progression at the school, in Begbroke, which includes Holly taking on the role as Head Girl and Eddie taking part in Autism’s Got Talent playing the Violin.

LVS Oxford head of centre Louisa Allison-Bergin said: “Holly and Eddie are great role models for us to have, demonstrating everything that is good about LVS Oxford’s approach to education and the progress that our learners make, thriving thanks to the expert staff here.

“I am delighted that this event helped us to recognise their great progress with us, and that they had such a memorable day.”