When you get an invitation to an event mentioning a 'VVIP guest', you know it's going to be someone you don't get to meet every day.

And sure enough, when Sharon Thorne of Honiton's TRIP community transport charity attended an event in Cornwall earlier this week, she found herself chatting to the Prince of Wales, who was there with Camilla.

Deputy manager Sharon was representing TRIP at a celebration of rural communities and the rural charities that had been helped by The Prince's Countyside Fund, at the Duchy Nursery in Lostwithiel, on Monday, July 19.

The Prince, wearing sunglasses and a tie patterned with tiny zebras, was introduced to Sharon and other representatives from Devon by the county's Lord Lieutenant, David Fursdon.

What did the Prince say to Sharon?

Sharon said: "It was lovely to see how much the Prince seemed to know about the groups, taking the time to talk about the broad cross-section of community work.

"He asked about when we would get our electric vehicle and about our youngest trustee.

"The Prince then asked where the TRIP office was, and all I could think of to say was 'next to Wetherspoons and opposite Chippie Joe's'!

"The Prince laughed and I said he was welcome to pop in for a cup of tea and a ride on the blue bus any time. He said he might just do that!"

'An honour and a privilege'

After the visit, Sharon said it had been a 'genuine honour' and a 'privilege' to represent TRIP and all its 'amazing volunteers' at the event.

She said: "Talking to the other charities and hearing their stories was inspirational.

"Overall this was a great community event to celebrate all the wonderful, resilient community groups."