Maldon District: Remarkable local women invited to King’s Coronation reflect on the occasion

Two local women were invited to attend the King's Coronation last Saturday (May 6), and another camped out for six days to witness the occasion – all flying the flag for the Maldon District.

Former Essex Police officer Dawn Wood, a British Empire Medal (BEM) recipient and solo Atlantic rower, nearly missed her invitation as she initially thought it was a spam email.

There were just 2,000 people on the guest list, of which 850 had been awarded a BEM for their community work. Dawn received her BEM in January last year, in the late Queen's New Year Honours List, for services to Maritime Policing and her conservation work.

In 2019, Dawn (pictured outside Westminster Abbey) rowed solo across the Atlantic Ocean, from Gran Canaria to Barbados in 51 days, raising £20,000 for marine conservation. (Photo: Dawn Wood)

Last Saturday, Dawn arrived at Westminster Abbey at 6.30am, but ended up giving several TV and radio interviews before the main event.

She recalled: "I think I was on telly even more than the King himself during the day!"

Guests were seated by 9am, with the ceremony due to begin at 11am.

Dawn told Nub News: "The atmosphere was incredible.

"We listened to music and songs from the Monteverdi Choir, the Coronation Orchestra, and other amazing soloist singers and musicians.

"Before long we saw world leaders, representatives from all faiths, and the Royal family enter the Abbey - before the arrival of the King and Queen. It was interesting to see the ceremony follow the same rituals as it has for nearly a thousand years. It's mind-boggling to think I was part of such an old tradition.

When the ceremony ended, Dawn headed to her hotel to get changed. However, things did not quite go to plan.

Dawn later met Jay Blades MBE, star of The Repair Shop on BBC One. (Photo: Dawn Wood)

Dawn recalled: "I won't go into too much detail, in case I get anyone into trouble. But after accidentally taking the wrong exit out of the Abbey, I ended up at an after-party with champagne and canopies that I really was not supposed to be at!"

In June, Dawn and two friends will take part in a rowing race across the Pacific Ocean from Monterey Bay to Kauai, Hawaii. They will be the third female trio ever to complete the route.

Sarah Troop (left) accepted a £1,500 grant from Essex's High Sheriff (right) towards Maldon & District CVS' youth initiative in March. (Photo: Steve Brading / Essex Community Foundation)

Maldon & District CVS Director Sarah Troop also attended the Coronation as a BEM recipient. Sarah was awarded the honour in 2020, for leading the community response team in Maldon during the pandemic.

Despite the early start, she told Nub News watching the Coronation in-person was "absolutely fantastic".

Sarah said: "I'm not sure what I will remember most about the event. Everyone I met was lovely and the atmosphere was so special.

"Probably one of the most memorable bits was the national anthem at the end. It's a good thing they printed the words of the second verse in the Order of Service, as I would never have known them otherwise!"

Faith Nicholson-Eagleton, from Althorne, camped out for her seventh royal occasion, sleeping in a tent for nearly a week. (Photo: BBC News)

Meanwhile, Althorne resident Faith Nicholson-Eagleton was interviewed by BBC Breakfast as the first person to camp out on The Mall, waiting to watch the Coronation. She slept in a tent for six days and five nights.

Faith told Nub News: "It was cold, and the ground was hard – but it was worth every ache and bruise!

"I've been following the Royal Family since the Silver Jubilee. My first camp-out was for Charles and Diana's wedding at St Paul's Cathedral."

Since then, Faith has camped out for seven more royal weddings and funerals, including the funerals of Princess Diana and Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

She continued: "I always go early because I like the build-up of the atmosphere and excitement. There's a sense of friendliness and camaraderie among those of us that camp out. I have made life-long friendships - you can't get better than that.

"I witnessed history in the making - I could never be satisfied with just watching it on TV."