The head of public protection at Lancaster City Council had the honour of being invited to Buckingham Palace last week for helping to keep residents safe during the pandemic.
Fiona Inston attended the Queen’s Garden Party last Wednesday (May 18) after being nominated for her ‘significant contributions’ to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ Covid-19 Compliance Working Group.
Throughout the pandemic Ms Inston was involved a range of areas such as commenting on draft guidance, policies and helping to shape covid legislation, such as on event safety, covid passes and self-isolation.
Locally, she also chaired a local pandemic resilience group subgroup, focussing on business compliance across Lancashire.
The annual garden parties are traditionally held by the monarch to give her an opportunity to speak to people who have made a positive impact in their community.
The Queen was unable to attend this year, but The Earl and Countess of Wessex, The Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Alexandra, former chancellor of Lancaster University, were all in attendance
Ms Inston, who has worked in public protection for almost 20 years, works closely with the Local Government Association and is in a joint role with Lancashire County Council's public health team.
Speaking after the event she said: “It was a big, but very pleasant surprise to receive the invite. It was a great experience and lovely to be surrounded by so many people who had made a difference to their communities.
“The pandemic brought many challenges, but always my focus was to ensure that we were keeping people safe. My work with the Compliance Working Group included influencing and policy and strategy at a national levels, working with civil servants to provide constructive honest feedback on how it would work within communities/ businesses reflecting on local learning.”


Police issue quicksand warning after riverbank danger for school pupils in Lancaster
Lancaster animal shelter launches 'Big Build' fundraiser to help save charity
LISTEN: Morecambe "definitely submitting a bid" to become first UK Town of Culture
Heysham Port upgrade blamed for traffic chaos 'trapping residents in their homes'
LISTEN: Tourism champs hail Eden Project and Tour de France as huge for Morecambe Bay area
Donation helps college pan ability football team to play in national championships
LISTEN: Meet the new manager of the Midland Hotel in Morecambe
LISTEN: Main contractor to build Eden Project Morecambe to be announced this month
£1.2m of funding for flood defence schemes in Lancaster district announced
Morecambe Bay hospital trust unveils new painless blood test
Thousands raised to help boost return of Lancaster Music Festival
High street computer games shop in Lancaster closes down
LISTEN: Carnforth actor wins Hollywood and Paris awards for horror film role
"1600 potholes repaired last week" says councillor as roads debate rumbles on
Burger King takeaway in Lancaster city centre closes down
Morecambe lifeboat crew reunite dog lost on sands with owner
New Morrisons Daily supermarket opens in Morecambe
Council investigate after derelict food trailer found dumped in Lancaster layby
Man charged after pedestrian died in Morecambe hit and run
LISTEN: We go out on Pothole Patrol in Morecambe

