IT WAS a birthday to remember for a former Banbury mayor who celebrated the occasion with the Queen.
Rosemarie Higham marked her 66th birthday by attending a reception with Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh at Banbury Town Hall.
The former councillor, who ran Higham Solid Fuels in Banbury until its closure last year, was presented with a bouq
uet of flowers and spoke with Her Majesty during today's (Thursday) royal visit.
Mrs Higham said: "What a birthday! I'll never forget it for as long as I live! It was absolutely wonderful and I felt pretty special.
"It has been the most amazing day and I was honoured to be invited. The Queen was fantastic. She was so charming and so nice. I think this has really cheered everybody up."
Mrs Higham was among 150 specially invited guests who attended a reception with the Queen and Prince Philip at Banbury Town Hall.
While there, the Queen viewed the town's original charter granted in 1608 by King James I and signed the visitors book.
Mrs Higham praised the efforts of Banbury Town Mayor Ann Bonner who guided the Queen around the town hall and said the day would be one to remember for all involved.
"Ann Bonner was totally amazing," she said.
"This has been such a lovely day for Banbury and I'm sure the school children must have been thrilled to see her. In all of this economic gloom it is fantastic to have had this wonderful ray of sunshine."
