STAN Rogers hasn’t worn a suit since he got married 65 years ago but after receiving a royal invitation to Buckingham Palace he has bought a new one especially for the occasion.

The 91-year-old, of Rodbourne, is among the dozens of community stalwarts to get a prestigious invite to the Queen’s Buckingham Palace Garden Party this year.

And Stan, also known to friends as Jim, will be suited and booted and heading to London on Tuesday with his sister Phyllis Rowland, of Wheeler Avenue, who has also bought a new outfit and hat.

They will be mingling with thousands of others and tucking into afternoon tea. It is reported at a typical garden party there are around 27,000 cups of tea, 20,000 sandwiches and 20,000 slices of cake are consumed. Some 400 waiting staff are involved in the serving.

The retired railway wagon builder was nominated for his 25 years of dedication organising hundreds of coach trips, named Jim’s Jaunts, for pensioners in the area. He has arranged almost 300 trips with Thamesdown and Barnes Coaches, including to Tintern Abbey at Christmas.

But Stan, who lives with wife Joyce, 87, had no idea his name had been put forward until he received a letter through his post box from the palace.

“I didn’t believe it,” said Stan. “I thought I had just been nominated and that was it and it wouldn’t happen. When I got the letter I phoned up my sister and her husband answered and said they already knew.

“It was their son, my nephew Richard Rowland, who nominated me. They thought I was worth it. I don’t think so myself.

“What started the coach trips was we were at the community centre one night and Toothill was being built and a lot of us didn’t have cars, so we said let’s see if we can hire a coach and have a trip around the new part of Swindon.”

Stan, who was born in Swindon and went to the former Queensdown Primary School, has arranged tours around the town and further afield to places such as Cambridge, Falmouth and the Isle of Wight. His trips have proved so popular there used to be a long waiting list of people wanting to go on them.

Since the news was revealed that he would be heading to the palace for the party, people have also been stopping and congratulating him in the street.

However, although delighted to receive the invitation he is wishes he could share the moment with his wife Joyce, who is currently in hospital and not able to attend with him. But Stan has been visiting her every day and is hoping to pop and see her before he heads to London next week.

He added: “The first thing my wife said was that she was proud of me, but now because she is in hospital she wishes she could go with me.

“I’ve never been to Buckingham Palace before and all I’m thinking it will be is a lot of cucumber sandwiches.”