Ashton Sixth Form College student and BT Manchester Sports Awards Volunteer of the year Sam Coates was recently invited to attend a Civil Luncheon during The Queen’s visit to Manchester.

Sam was invited to the prestigious event at Manchester Town Hall, after her volunteer work with youngsters came to the attention of the Royals.

A keen tennis player, Sam is currently studying the BTEC Extended Diploma in Sport and keeps herself busy in her spare time. For the last four years Sam has been giving up 10 hours a week offering free coaching sessions at Sportcity to youngsters aged five and over.

Sam has also taken part in sports events for charity, most recently volunteering to help out at Manchester Sport Relief Sunday and attending the Sport Relief Mile in Spinningfields. Sam has also been chosen as one of Manchester’s ambassadors at the London Olympics.

“I love sports and I’ve been helping out coaching since I was 13, I just wanted to give something back, I think it’s really important that children are able to get into sports.”

Sam was extremely pleased and equally surprised to hear she had been invited to attend;

Sam said: “I was invited a while ago and I had to RSVP.

“I got the proper invitation in the post after that. It was really posh!”

“My family were really pleased I was invited. My mum and dad and nana all thought it was really good.”

She added: “I kept looking over at the Queen while we were eating and thinking it was really weird that she was there! It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”

“The lunch was really nice. The Queen sat in the middle and I was two tables away, so I could see her while I was eating. I was really careful not to spill anything!”

Sam continued; “Bobby Charlton was there and about 16 other VIPs. Obviously the Queen and Phillip were the most impressive ones!”