Handforth family invited to charity's party at the palace

A Handforth family were delighted to be invited to Buckingham Palace last week for a special reception party.

Tom Bachofner and his family were invited by HRH The Countess of Wessex who hosted the reception to celebrate Mencap's 70th anniversary on Tuesday, 7th November.

Tom, whose 6-year-old daughter Rosie has Downs Syndrome, told wilmslow.co.uk "In 2014 I was invited to become a Family Ambassador for the charity after the work I've done through writing my blog 'The Future's Rosie' which helps new parents come to terms with receiving a positive diagnosis of Downs Syndrome.

"The invite to Buckingham Palace was for those who have helped shape the charity over the last 70 years. There were trustees, patrons, celebrity ambassadors, employees of Mencap and others who have played a big part in helping The charity become the leading voice of learning disability."

The evening began with a champagne reception in the Picture Gallery before Tom and his wife Karen along with their three children Harry, Joe, and Rosie were ushered to the Music Room alongside celebrity and family ambassadors for a personal meet and great with HRH The Countess of Wessex.

Tom said "It was all very official but we were soon set at ease when we met her - she was so lovely and down to earth asking where we'd travelled from and whether Rosie has her brothers wrapped around her finger as well as saying how smart Harry and Joe were!"

After meeting HRH there were talks from herself and the chair of trustees as well as a mother from Belfast who has been helped greatly by the charity since the birth of her son who like Rosie has Downs Syndrome.

At the end of the evening Rosie was given a cuddly Corgi teddy as a momentum of the occasion.

Photo: Copyright Royal Commission.