Two Swindon teachers travelled to Buckingham Palace on 3 May to meet the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Department for Education and Employment asked for teachers to be nominated who had contributed something special to schools. Three of the five names put forward by Swindon Council's education department were chosen: Tim Noble from Greendown, Karen Winterburn of Tregoze primary school and John Saunders, head of Warnford School, Highworth.

Tim, recovering from coordinating the West Swindon Shakespeare Festival, said the invitation was a complete mystery. "I can only assume my name was put forward because of the festival. I'm greatly honoured, but the hard work was done by all the teachers and parents involved with each production."

Karen was equally surprised when she received her invitation from the Master of the Queen's Household. "I was taken aback. I've no idea how they got my name. All the teachers at Tregoze work really hard and I will be representing the whole school."

Karen co-directed a production of The Tempest last year and was also involved in Macbeth at the Shakespeare festival. She visited primary schools in Australia at the end of last year and ran an aboriginal art day on her return.

Swindon Chief Education Officer Mike Lusty said, "all our teachers work hard in difficult circumstances and we have many staff in Swindon who enhance the education of our children."

To view photos from the West Swindon Shakespeare Festival,click here.