Forty Isle of Man people receive Queen's Maundy alms

Dorothy Boyde, 75, has never left the Isle of Man

Forty Manx residents have received Maundy money from Queen Elizabeth II in a historic ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

They were among 85 receiving the Queen's Maundy on Her Majesty's 85th birthday.

Among the Manx contingent was Dorothy Boyde, 75, who has never left the island before.

Manx people had never before received the money in the ceremony which dates back to the Middle Ages.

This year's ceremony was unique as it is the first time it has coincided with the monarch's birthday.

Usually the Maundy recipients, one for each year of the Queen's life, are drawn from the same diocese as the cathedral the Queen visits to distribute the symbolic alms.

Royal message

The idea to include Isle of Man residents came when the Bishop of Sodor and Man, the Right Reverend Robert Patterson, was at a gathering where Anglican bishops met the Queen and he suggested that she visited his cathedral for the Maundy Service.

The bishop received a call saying it would be too difficult for the Queen to visit the island but islanders could be nominated for the honour.

Isle of Man residents will be attending along with people from the Anglican Diocese of Europe, which is based in Gibraltar.

From 1699 the Maundy money was distributed by a royal representative but it became customary since the 1930s for the reigning monarch to distribute the coins.