East Barkwith retailer David Ward off to Royal Garden Party

Retailer David Ward, who has won a British Empire Medal in the King’s first New Year’s Honours List, has been invited to a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, just after the Coronation.

The Royal invite was in recognition for all that he has done for his community, including being a Postmaster for 30 years, a Parish Councillor for 25 years and lots of charity fundraising.

David is taking his Mum, Jenny, who is a very keen Royalist, to Buckingham Palace.

His family has been running Donnington on Bain Village Shop and East Barkwith Post Office and Village Shop for five decades.

Jenny has just reached the milestone of working at the Donnington on Bain store for 50 years. David was just two years old when his family moved from Goulceby to take on that shop.

The family then also took on East Barkwith Post Office and Village Shop, 47 years ago. Aged five, he recalls helping with decorating the shop. Now he has decorated the shop with flags and bunting to mark the Coronation of King Charles III.

Jenny and David both hope to meet the newly-Crowned King and other members of the Royal family at the Royal Garden party, which is just after the Coronation.

They will also get to enjoy a big Coronation celebration in East Barkwith on the Sunday (7May) with a community event.

David’s wife, Sally, and other family members and staff will help to run both shops whilst they are both away in London. Both their shops, which are at the heart of their communities, remained fully open during the pandemic to continue to provide vital services.

David is President of the Lincoln and Grimsby National Federation of Sub Postmasters (NFSP). He also likes to support local charities. One year David did a big fundraiser for Baby Lives charity, raising £1,000 for his local hospital towards incubators. A year later his son needed this equipment when he was born. Through sales of the National Lottery at his Post Office he has also helped with many good causes.

When David won an independent retailer competition, he shared the prize of £750, between the school where he was a governor, the village hall and the local swimming pool.