WHO would have thought that answering a job advert in the Oxford Mail could lead to rubbing shoulders with royalty at Buckingham Palace?

It was back in 1989 that busy mum Maureen Buy responded to an ad for staff at relationship support group Relate Oxfordshire.

Now just over 25 years later, her long service saw the finance officer and training administrator – along with husband Ian, 59 – waved off to Buckingham Palace for a royal garden party.

Colleagues had wanted to honour Mrs Buy, 57, for being the longest-serving staff member in Oxfordshire. She has served under five different managers and seen the charity go from strength to strength.

She said: “When Relate first started it was more a family concern and changed to become more of a business.

“It has changed from a ‘people’ point of view as well. People used to come in in the daytime but a lot more people do shift work and rotas now. It had to become more flexible. We have more people that need evenings.”

She also spends a great deal of time on the front desk at the Iffley Road office so has regular face-to-face contact with service users. She said: “I see couples come in much happier than when they started. Some people only need a couple of sessions to put them back on track, and others need longer.”

The Buckingham Palace event, on Wednesday, May 20, was the second time Relate has honoured the Iffley Road resident, who was named a “Relate Hero” last November at a special ceremony in Northampton.

Relate provides non-judgemental support, information and counselling to local people from all walks of life, from young people to families to couples. It encourages strong, healthy relationships as the basis of a thriving society.

Relate Oxfordshire general manager Alison Frecknall said: “We are very proud that Maureen was recognised as a Relate Hero, and the invitation to the garden party was the icing on the cake. Nobody deserves it more.”