A community fundraiser from Ash has been invited to the Queen’s Garden Party on Wednesday.

Retired finance director Nigel Beevor, 74, of The Street, Ash, received the invitation for him and wife Sheila, 72, last December.

Mr Beevor’s name was put forward for the garden party because of all his work in the community – raising vital funds for projects and charities.

He said: “My wife and I will be going. It’s a great honour. I’m very much looking forward to seeing Buckingham Palace.”

Since 2000, when he retired, he has been a tireless voluntary fundraiser.

He is treasurer of the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Society in Sandwich; treasurer of the Friends of Adisham Church; a trustee of the Caldecott Foundation; and chairman of governors for the Royal School for Deaf Children in Margate.

He is also on the fundraising board for the Marlowe Theatre.

Mr Beevor was instrumental in bringing about the re-building of the Marlowe Theatre, helping to raise £4.2 million over three years.

He said: “I do believe that a good theatre is a great cultural benefit for an area.

“It’s been an enormous pleasure for us who have worked on the fundraising to see the extraordinary variety of art which the Marlowe can put on. It’s been very successful.”

Mr Beevor, who used to live in Ratling, near Aylesham, until moving to Ash a year ago, is also a member of Royal St George’s in Sandwich.

At a charity golf day at the club he also managed to raise £35,000 for the Marlowe.

He said: “I’ve been very fortunate in my life and I wanted to give something back to the community.”

The retired finance director and chartered accountant lived in London before moving to east Kent. He has three children, Lucy, Charlie and Jamie, and five granddaughters.

Mr and Mrs Beevor will meet the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and other members of the Royal family.