Queen’s  Golden  Jubilee Award

In the year of The Queen’s Golden Jubilee, (2002) Local Authorities and others were notified of a new award to recognise outstanding voluntary work in the community. Janette Kersey was Mayor of Hungerford at the time and submitted the work of CHAIN as a possible contender.

It was a surprise to the management committee to discover that they had been nominated and would be assessed.  There followed a visit by one of the County’s Deputy Lord Lieutenants, Mrs Daphne Priestley O.B.E.  DL. She met with Ron Rowland, Chairman of CHAIN at the time, and must have been suitably impressed with CHAIN’s work as in due course the Management Committee learnt that they had been shortlisted.

In June 2003 CHAIN were notified that they would be receiving the Award and that it would be presented by The Lord-Lieutenant of The Royal County of Berkshire, Mr. Philip Wroughton, on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen on a suitable occasion.  The suitable occasion was a prestigious gathering at Hungerford Corn Exchange on 16^th September. A large number of CHAIN’s volunteers attended together with The Mayor and members of The Town Council, The Constable and Trustees of The Town and Manor of Hungerford and other specially invited guests.  After a welcome by the Chairman, Robin Tubb, Hungerford’s Bellman read out the Award details and The Lord Lieutenant presented the Award.  There were refreshments prepared by CHAIN volunteers and this provided an opportunity for The Lord Lieutenant to meet volunteers informally.

The Award consists of an engraved piece of glasswork.  and a certificate (see next page). Both are  displayed in The Hungerford Corn Exchange. Since 2003 similar organisations to CHAIN have received the Award but CHAIN was, and always will be, one of the first.

The picture shows Ron Rowland, CHAIN’s Chairman, receiving the award from The Lord Lieutenant