CINDERFORD's Rodney Neep, pictured, will be written into history on April 29 when a pen he has made is used for the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Rodney, 66, of St White's Road, is a pen maker par excellence and has just learned that one of the fountain pens he sent as a gift to the royal couple will be used for the big event.

A letter from St James' Palace thanked him for the gift and said it would be used as part of the wedding.

"I'm convinced they're going to use it to sign the register," said Rodney, who has been making pens by hand for three years. He said he was a bit of a royalist and wished Wills and Kate all the best.

"I've all the time in the world for the Royal Family," said Rodney, whose business is called Pens of the Forest.

The royal fountain pen is worth £450, and made from polyester and an ivory substitute, plated with gold and rhodium. Its sister pen is made from soapstone.

He decided to send a batch of pens to the royals after he heard the news of their engagement in Kenya.

Rodney and his wife Gay have helped hundreds of schoolchildren in Kenya through their charity helpkenyakids.org and Rodney gets supplies of soapstone from Kenya with which to make his pens.

"I thought I'd try to make a pen from soapstone and while I'm at it I may as well send them one on spec – together with a pair of wedding pens. I was so pleased to get the letter," he said.

Exact replicas of the two wedding pens are now on display at Taylors Jewellers, Cinderford where owner Claire Taylor stocks a range of Rodney's pens.

Like Rodney, Claire and her senior saleswoman Zoe Parker are looking forward to the royal wedding at Westminster Abbey – and are having a street party in Bream to celebrate.

"It's historic, a wonderful story," said Claire. "I don't think Rodney even thought he was going to get a reply but it's something to share with everyone."

To join in the celebration of the royal wedding Aston Ingham Village Hall will be opening for a bring and share community tea – a street party, but indoors! Go along at 2.30pm for 3pm and share in the celebrations.

l If you are having a street party for the wedding, call The Forester on 01594 820600.