Wisbech schoolgirl Shyla Brown’s amazing Royal date at Westminster Abbey
A selfless schoolgirl who has raised thousands of pounds for charity was among the congregation at the Princess of Wales’ glittering Christmas carol concert.
Shyla Brown, the eldest child of Blair Simpson and Dean Brown, attended the service at Westminster Abbey last Friday and was blown away by the event.
Her proud mum Blair, who along with Shyla’s grandmother Linda Simpson, accompanied Shyla to the carol concert said: “It was absolutely amazing – breathtaking in fact. It is difficult to put into words just how wonderful it was. Shyla sat with her mouth open through most of it, she was totally blown away and couldn’t wait to see what was coming next.
“We were really close to the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, we were opposite them and just seven rows back and Prince George made eye contact and smiled at Shyla who waved at him.
“We were scheduled to speak to the family but unfortunately there was a lot of press and they got in the way of that happening, which is a shame. But it is still something we will never forget.”
Shyla, from Walsoken and a pupil at Peckover School in Wisbech, was nominated to attend by Julie Spence, the Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, who met the ten-year-old when she won her fourth award of the year with the BBC.
Blair said: “It has been an amazing year for Shyla, she has raised thousands of pounds for her friend Harrison Dodkin and his family with various events including walking a marathon around our home village and a 100-mile cycle ride.”
Shyla’s fundraising started in April last year when she decided she wanted to do something to help Harrison and his family and held a lemonade stand in the car park of her grandparents' pub.
Both Harrison and his eldest brother Finley have been diagnosed with Battens Disease, strand CLN3, a life-limiting degenerative neurological disease.
Harrison’s parents Ben and Sarah Dodkin set up a charity fund Pedal4Memories to help raise money to make wishes come true for Harrison, Finley, and their brother Arthur.
Shyla has plans to organise another event to help the Dodkin family but meanwhile, she is busy planning to complete another marathon walk around Walsoken.
This time, the event on March 22, will be in aid of the 4Louis charity in memory of baby Arthur Ryan Lockey who was sadly stillborn in November.
His parents Sophie and Ryan Lockey are Shyla’s neighbours and she was touched by their loss and wanted to do something.
The 4Louis charity provides memory boxes for bereaved parents like Sophie and Ryan.
Blair said: “They provide the memory boxes filled with keepsakes such as their child’s hand and footprints, and they also provide support and comfort.”
The walk will be Shyla’s second marathon and this time she is hoping to do it faster than the one she completed earlier this year.
A Gofundme page has been set up for people to donate with a target of £1,000 – each memory box costs around £30 to supply so Shyla wants to fund as many as possible.
Blair added: “Shyla is such a caring little girl, and this has been a great year for her. She has won four awards, and been in the presence of Royalty, it is hard to see how she can top it – but she already has some big plans for next year including the marathon.”
