SOMERSET youngster Solomon Hennessey marked his eighth birthday in style – with a visit to Number 10 Downing Street.
Solomon, along with sisters Nyah and Kaydie and mum Tanya, was invited to a children’s Christmas party hosted by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Lady Victoria Starmer.
They were at the festive VIP get-together with seven other children and parents supported by Action for Children’s Bath West Children Centre, and others invited from schools and another children’s charity.
For his birthday present, the PM and his wife gave Solomon a tote bag of stationery items including a notebook bearing the words ‘future Prime Minister’, as well as a birthday card signed by them both.
All guests were also treated to entertainment from an events team including live music, games and a craft session.
“It was like a dream,” said Solomon. “The Prime Minister gave me a bag full of stationery and a note pad, and a birthday card – and then he signed the note pad for me.
“I’ve always wanted to be a VIP – it feels good – when I was sleeping, I thought in my mind “gosh I’m going to London” but then today, it wasn’t a dream, it was real.”
Solomon, front, with mum Tanya, back, and sisters Kaydie, left, and Nyah, right. Picture: Action for Children
Mum Tanya added: “Today was amazing. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and with it being Solomon’s birthday as well, it was just really special.
“He had such a great day. I felt very privileged to be invited – it was such an experience for Solomon.”
Coordinator of Action for Children’s Bath West Children’s Centre, Helen Stockwell, said: “What an incredible day – if very surreal. We’re so grateful to the Prime Minister and his wife for inviting us to this special party – they were so welcoming and kind – and everything was so relaxed.
“It was just such a brilliant and special day for our children and families, as well as for me.
“Many of the families we’re supporting in Bath have had an incredibly difficult time in recent years with the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis. Some of the children who went to the party had never been on a train before, let alone to London – so for their first trip to the capital to be one where they get to go and meet the Prime Minister and have a party at Number 10 was just so wonderful and magical for them.”
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