Palace visit for Stan
A volunteer who uses music to rehabilitate prisoners, has
been honoured by the Queen.
Stan Partner, of Lovell Road, Minster, was made an MBE at
Buckingham Palace on Friday.
The 81-year-old was given the honour in recognition of his
voluntary work as the conductor of a brass band at category D open
prison Standford Hill, Eastchurch.
He travelled to the capital with his granddaughter, Megan Gale,
and daughters Sharon Gale and Denise Luckhurst.
He said: “You couldn’t grasp what was happening it was so fast
and so beautiful you have never seen anything like it in your life.
It was just out of this world.
“It is so fabulous you can’t describe it. I’ve been to a few
places in my lifetime, I have never seen anywhere like it that
could come anywhere near that lot.
“There were chandeliers that look half the size of a football
pitch down the centre of the room.”
After a tour through the palace, including the lavish art
gallery, the father of two, grandfather of five and
great-grandfather of four, 
was presented with his medal by the monarch in the main
ballroom.
He said: “She’s very small, she has to stand on a little stand
to pin the medal on you.
“She thanked me very much for my 34 years in uniform and thanked
me very much for continuing with it after my retirement.”
Mr Partner also has a British Empire Medal from 1989 for his
service as a prison officer.
He started at Standford Hill in 1959 and continues running the
classes, which are held on Mondays and Thursdays, into his
retirement.
Over the years, the band has played at private events, carol
services, churches and old people’s homes and featured on BBC Radio
Kent and South East Today television.
Originally from Coalville, Leicestershire, Mr Partner started to
learn how to play brass instruments at the age of 12.
He left school at the age of 14, and worked in a pit before he
was called up to National Service in 1951.
21/11/12
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