Madelaine Goddard was one of 150 people to receive Maundy Money from Her Majesty The Queen last week.
The Royal Maundy Service saw 75 men and 75 women receive the specially minted coins at Worcester Cathedral, in recognition of their many years of Christian service to their local community and church.
"It was awe inspiring. Fantastic," said Madelaine, who is currently a Deanery Synod member and lay chair for Derby City Deanery.
Maundy money was also presented to Piers Bostock of St Anne's Ambergate.
Madelaine Goddard said: "The first thing that struck me was how lovely and friendly everyone was - the police, the marshals and the 6th-formers who escorted us to our seat all seemed to want us to have a great day.
"The service and the pageantry were beautiful and the whole atmosphere was wonderfully uplifting both inside and out, despite the horrid weather."
Although she described the day as 'memorable', Madelaine had to confess that one part of it was a bit of a blur: "I think I was slightly nervous as the Queen walked towards me.
"She was very charming and gracious and she spoke to all the recipients - but I can't actually remember most of what she said to me, apart from 'God bless' at the end of our conversation!"
Queen Camilla presented the coins this year on behalf of His Majesty The King.
King Charles, who is being treated for cancer, sent a video message to the service expressing his 'great sadness' at missing the Maundy Thursday service.
The purses containg the coins were carried on large salvers by Yeoman Warders from the Tower of London.
Madelaine's Maundy adventure began back in February when a letter bearing the royal crest landed on her door mat.
"Oh gosh, what on Earth's this?" She recalls thinking.
The letter was an invitation to receive Maundy money and said she had been nominated by the Rt Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby.
"I remember feeling very honoured and privileged to have even been considered," said Madelaine. "Though a part of me kept wondering 'why me?'"
Maundy facts
The tradition of presenting alms on Maundy Thursday goes back to at least the 4th-Century.
The Maundy money ceremony itself began in 1662, when Charles II gave out coins.
This year, Queen Camilla distributed the Maundy money to 75 men and 75 women from around the country - one man and one woman for each year of the monarch's age.
The gift is presented in recognition of their exemplary Christian service to church and community over many years.
In recent times it has been the tradition for the service to travel to different cathedrals; last year the service was held at York Minster. It was last held in Derby in 2010.
The word ‘Maundy’ comes from the Latin word meaning ‘commandment’ - it was on this Thursday, the day before he died, that Jesus gave his disciples what he described as a new commandment: ‘that you should love one another as I have loved you’.
