HE may be 87 years old, but lay reader Tony Hunt still preaches and takes services at churches in the York area every Sunday.

Now his work for the church has won official recognition with an invitation to receive Maundy Money from the Queen at York Minster next month.

Mr Hunt, of Scarcroft Road, has been a member of the congregation at St Olave’s Church in Marygate for the past half-century or so, but he has been a lay reader for about the past 26 years.

He takes services once or twice each Sunday, at St Clement’s Church in Scarcroft Road and All Saint’s in Pavement, and occasionally at St Olave’s as well.

“He is quite a remarkable person.” said his daughter Alison.

Mr Hunt said he was delighted when he received the invitation.

Eighty-six men and 86 women, one for each year the Queen has been alive, have been invited to receive the Maundy money at the traditional service at York Minster on Thursday April 5. The annual ceremony is intended to recognise service to the community and church.

The tradition of the Sovereign giving money to the poor dates from the 13th century, when the monarch also gave food and clothing, and even washed the recipients’ feet. The recipients at Westminster Abbey last year received a white purse containing 85p in Maundy coins and a red purse containing a £5 coin and a 50p piece.

Most of this year’s recipients come from the York diocese, although the Queen has asked for some to come from further afield, as this is her Diamond Jubilee year.

York Press: Queen in York logo

As the Queen prepares to visit York to distribute Maundy Money and celebrates her Diamond Jubilee, The Press is preparing to publish a series of special Royal supplements and we want to hear from readers about their own experiences.

Were you born on the day the monarch became Queen? If you were already around, how did you spend Coronation Day? And were you in York when the Queen last visited the Minster on Maundy Thursday, in 1972?

Do you have pictures of that day, or of your coronation celebrations? If you are prepared to share your memories with other readers, email mike.laycock@thepress.co.uk or kate.liptrot@thepress.co.uk, or contact Mike Laycock on 01904 567132 or Kate Liptrot on 01904 567168.