Retired Harrogate teacher takes on epic 1,000-mile charity bike ride after meeting The Queen at Buckingham Palace

Mrs Gillian Furniss, who dedicated an incredible 43 years to teaching Belmont Grosvenor School before retiring last summer, was invited to attend the first Royal Garden Party of the season in recognition of her remarkable contribution to education.

Accompanied by her daughter Holly, Mrs Furniss spent a memorable afternoon in the Palace gardens enjoying traditional tea, sandwiches and cakes, and had the honour of speaking with both HRH The Queen and HRH The Princess Royal.

Describing the experience as unforgettable, Mrs Furniss said: “Attending the Royal Garden Party was such an amazing experience, a real experience of a lifetime and I was very honoured to have been invited.

“The Queen asked me if I was enjoying my retirement and said that I deserved it after 43 years of teaching.

"I was so amazed she was talking to me – I told her I was doing a bike ride.”

And that ‘bike ride’ is no ordinary challenge.

This weekend, Mrs Furniss will set off on a gruelling journey from Land’s End to John O’Groats, cycling 1,000 miles to raise vital funds for three charities close to her heart – Capture, Blood Cancer UK and Active Against Cancer.

The challenge will see her spend day after day in the saddle, with her longest stretch covering 78 miles and even her shortest day reaching 37 miles.

To prepare for the mammoth ride, Mrs Furniss has been putting in the miles on her electric bike – a retirement gift from Belmont Grosvenor School.

Although she has previously completed the 215-mile Coast to Coast route and cycled 100 kilometres during a tour of Belgium, this will be the furthest journey she has ever undertaken.

She said: “I am excited but I also have a little bit of trepidation.

"But I’m doing the ride with an organised group so there is a support system in place.”

Mrs Sian de Gracia, Headteacher at Belmont Grosvenor School, said the entire school community was behind Mrs Furniss and wished her every success as she takes on the inspiring charity challenge.

To make a donation, visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/gillian-furniss?utm_term=enQkabKkg&utm_medium=FA&utm_source=CL