A CHARD charity worker who was inspired to volunteer by her years living in the Amazon rainforest will receive a royal reception after she was rewarded for her hard work with an invitation to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party.

Hannah Newitt, 77, who lives in Bonfire Close, works for the Shoe Box Appeal in Chard and will be going to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party in May as a reward for her years of hard work and volunteering.

Hannah, who lived in Argentina for 24 years, said: “I was nominated by some friends who I help with doing the Shoe Boxes.

“It was a couple of years ago my name was put forward and then earlier this year I received a letter saying I had been nominated.

“I was quite surprised. I was shocked really, I didn’t expect it. My friends were quite pleased and quite surprised too. I have to thank those who nominated me.”

Hannah was inspired to complete volunteer work after seeing the conditions that natives live in during her years living in the Amazon.

She travelled to Argentina with her parents, who were missionaries.

“I grew up in the Amazon and I lived out there for 24 years. Seeing the children had no toys I was the same. No toothpaste, little things like that. I have also written a book about my time living there.”

The book is called A Mud Hut with No Mod Cons.

Hannah first got involved in the Shoe Box Appeal 14 years ago, in 2002, and now they get 10,000 boxes a year in the TA20 area.

“It started off because a friend from church started doing it at her house and I got involved,” Hannah said.

“Then it just spiralled so much that it got too big for the house, so we had to get a warehouse.

“The lorry comes and collects boxes from the warehouse, which are then taken to Bristol to Blythswood Care.”

Hannah’s husband of 23 years Brian Newitt, 79, said: “I think it is nice that somebody recognised her hard work. It has come out of the blue really. I do think she works hard in what she does.”

Hannah will be going to the garden party in May, with a friend who lives in London.