IT was the crowning glory for Gloucestershire Academy of Music (GAM) when its founder Caroline Lumsden met Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace only days after a royal visit to the Gloucester-based arts education centre.

Musician Caroline, who set up the thriving academy 43 years ago in her Churcham kitchen, was a special guest at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party last week to celebrate and recognise those who work in Education and Skills.

She spoke to Queen Camilla and toured the palace gardens accompanied by her youngest daughter Katy Thomas, who has followed in her mother’s footsteps by teaching music in Cumbria.

Only a week ago, Caroline was telling The Duchess of Gloucester about her work with the academy when Her Royal Highness visited GAM’s base at Barbican House to celebrate the much-anticipated purchase of the building from the city council and watch musicians young and old performing.

“It’s been an extraordinary time for GAM and for me personally as I celebrate more than 50 years of teaching music,” said Caroline, now a grandmother at 73.

As she looks forward to retirement, she knows her legacy will continue as GAM goes from strength to strength and her children pursue careers in the performing arts and computing. Last weekend, she enjoyed her second daughter Emma Denton’s performances as cellist with the internationally-renowned Carducci String Quartet at their annual festival in Highnam Church.