Diabetic schoolboy Lewis, 10, heading for London to meet the Queen
A schoolboy with diabetes who played a vital role in changing the law will meet the Queen at a special reception in London next week.
Proud Lewis Sherwood, of Staffordshire, said: "I'm excited. I want to ask for her autograph."
His parents Andy and Zoe Sherwood won a ground-breaking ruling 18 months ago when they took his school to court after Lewis was excluded from a residential trip because of his condition.
A tribunal judge found in the family's favour and criticised Havergal CofE Primary in Shareshill and its governors for discriminating against the youngster, who was eight at the time.
As a result the Children and Families Act was amended to ensure no other children were forced to go through the courts to get proper support from their school.
Since then Lewis, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was four and is insulin dependent, has been busy fighting to improve things for children with the condition.
Last year he took a trip to Westminster as an ambassador for Diabetes UK to interview Lord Nash and Baroness Young about laws which discriminate against sufferers.
He also spoke in Parliament at the charity's Make The Grade campaign launch which called for better care in schools for children with type 1 diabetes.
In January 2013 Lewis, now 10, of East Road, Brinsford, was barred from staying overnight on a two-day residential trip to Coven because teachers did not want to be responsible for his healthcare.
Instead he had to return home each evening rather than staying with his friends. His parents claimed the school unlawfully discriminated against Lewis. Later he moved to neighbouring Whitgreave Primary in Featherstone.
The royal reception at St James's Palace on February 17 will celebrate Diabetes UK's 80th birthday.
Lewis, who has started a blog with his parents' help about living with diabetes, is among a handful of children across the country chosen to met the monarch.
Mrs Sherwood said: "He's not fazed at all. I think he's more excited bout the train journey. But we have told him it's probably not a good idea to ask the Queen for her autograph."
Pete Shorrick, Midlands manager for Diabetes UK ,said: "We think that the Queen will be as charmed by Lewis as we are. He is a real character and a great ambassador for the charity."
Lewis's blog can be viewed on https://growingupwitht1d.wordpress.com/
