‘Boy in the tent’ among 850 charity and community representatives invited to the King’s coronation

The “boy in the tent” – who raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for a hospice – is among more than 850 community and charity representatives invited to the King’s coronation.

Max Woosey, 13, raised more than £750,000 for North Devon Hospice by camping in his garden for three years.

The feat has earned him an invite to the historic event next month, along with hundreds of British Empire Medal (BEM) recipients in recognition of their contributions.

The BEM recognises the achievement or contribution of service to the community in a local area.

Many of those attending the coronation were “instrumental in providing services and support to their local communities during the COVID-19 lockdowns”, Buckingham Palace said.

Max, of Braunton, Devon, first pitched his tent in March 2020 with the aim of raising £100, inspired by his neighbour and friend Rick Abbot, who died of cancer in February 2020.

He went on to set a Guinness World Record for the biggest sum raised by camping, with the proceeds paying for 16 community nurses across north Devon.

Other BEM recipient invitees include Dawn Wood, a constable with Essex Police’s marine unit, who became the second fastest woman to row solo across the Atlantic in February 2019, after a 3,000-mile journey from the Canary Islands to Barbados in 51 days.

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Grandfather John Anderson, 72, from Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire, who was honoured for his community work throughout the pandemic, has also been invited.

The retired firefighter helped set up a call centre where people with COVID could call for a food parcel and have it delivered to their home, and he later established a community food pantry in Fraserburgh.

Former president of the National Black Police Association (NBPA) Franstine Jones, 60, from Ipswich has also been invited, describing it as the “biggest recognition” of her work to ensure diversity.

Some 400 young people representing charities will also be able to watch the coronation service and procession from the adjacent St Margaret’s Church.

They were nominated by the King and Queen Consort and the UK Government.

Half of them are involved with the Prince’s Trust, the Prince’s Foundation, Barnardo’s, the National Literacy Trust or the Ebony Horse Club, after the organisations were chosen by Charles and Camilla.

The other 200 are from the Scout Association, Girlguiding UK, St John Ambulance and the National Citizen Service and were nominated by the Government.

The four organisations are providing stewarding, route lining and first aid services on coronation day across London.