In June 2009 we were awarded a Queens Award for Voluntary Work
An extract from the Queens Award for Voluntary Work Website
In 2002, in celebration of Her Majesty’s Golden Jubilee, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award for Voluntary Service by Groups in the
Community was established. Its purpose is to recognise groups of individuals who are giving their time freely for the benefit of
others. It is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon groups of this kind and is equivalent in status to the MBE. As such,
the Queen’s Award not only serves to provide recognition of volunteer groups, but also demonstrates the high respect in which volunteering is held.
We are very proud and honoured to get this award and it will be of great benefit to the charity and the kids. It shows how much work the volunteers and fundraisers and families and kids
put in to make the charity a success.
Photos from the Garden Party and a tale from Pat....
Queens Garden Party. 21st of July 2009 Well what a very surreal 2 days we have just spent. We went by Train which was very quick and we were helped all the way. Help at Doncaster was particularly good. We stayed at the commodore Hotel near Hyde Park. Ok but a bit difficult for me as three steps up to our room were very steep. We decided to go to a show. We went to Sister Act it was brilliant. It was at the London Palladium. When we got there were 150 steps up to our seats, I could not do it so they put us in the royal box. Jayne and Alison were vying for the queen’s seat you could see everyone looking to see who we were. It was a brilliant experience. Unfortunately we were done by the taxi that took us to the wrong theatre and left us stranded. We did complain and get our money back (we booked it via the hotel)... As you all know I was reticent to go, the Queen has been a good monarch, but you all know my feelings about the royal family. Alison and Jayne were in their element there, it was just uncomfortable as it rained a lot and I got very cold. We tried to leave early but were put in a line up to meet the royal family. Jayne was pleased as she wanted to meet Prince Charles; Ali was just Ali, grinning like a Cheshire cat. I was not amused (no pun intended) I put my brolly down so I did not have to talk to anyone. It worked until I thought they had all gone and the Duchess of Gloucester got me. She was very nice but I was so cold I just wanted to go. It was a shame that we were not given name badges as it was difficult to know who to talk to. Lots of lovely dresses and hats to view, some were awful. We had a nice meal at a sushi restaurant next to The London Palladium, ended up would you believe at burger king at kings cross on the way home. We have the presentation of the Queens award to look forward to and a party to celebrate in the evening of the award on the 11th of September. Invitations will be sent out soon.
