Local veteran awarded for service to SSAFA

26 August 2021

RAF veteran Emlyn Phennah, 80, from Tewkesbury, has been a SSAFA volunteer for 15 years, firstly with SSAFA Clwyd, North Wales, and currently with SSAFA Gloucestershire.

His dedication has now been recognised with the presentation of the Sir James Gildea Global Award and the Gloucestershire High Sheriff Award.

Before joining SSAFA, Emlyn was a Ground Wireless Fitter and Air Electronics Operator in the RAF from 1959 to 1968, serving in various hotspots around the world, before working in telecommunications throughout India and Europe.

Since then, he has carried out a variety of SSAFA roles to support serving and retired members of the Armed Forces and their families. His voluntary roles have included working as a caseworker, Publicity and Fundraising Officer, Project Coordinator and Veterans Liaison Officer.

Described as a ‘dynamo of energy and activity’, Emlyn has also taken on the role of Support Co-ordinator for Joining Forces, the charity’s collaboration with Age UK.

He and his team made contact with many hundreds of veterans and spouses establishing the outreach initiative and helping form breakfast clubs throughout the county, as well as running information stands.

In all, over 3,500 veterans and their carers were reached through Joining Forces, greatly increasing awareness of the service that SSAFA provides.

In addition, Emlyn has played a central role during the pandemic, reaching out to veterans right across Gloucestershire.

Emlyn received a Gloucestershire High Sheriff Award as part of the BBC’s ‘Make a Difference’ Award, for running fortnightly video conferences to help veterans combat isolation.

He has also made the finals in the ‘Soldiering On Awards’ for support to the Forces community.

Emlyn said: “Helping older veterans has given me enormous satisfaction. My time with Joining Forces was very rewarding. During the pandemic I’m so pleased I’ve been able to help them through the Veterans Connections Project.

“I’m extremely proud of what we’ve achieved over the past four years and it’s great to see Breakfast Clubs and Coffee Mornings starting up again.”