HRH Prince Michael of Kent awards honours to SSAFA volunteers for ‘exceptional contributions’

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11 July 2024

From veteran volunteers to dedicated teams to epic fundraisers, SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity has today recognised exceptional contributions and commitment to SSAFA’s activities and values from across the UK.

There were several sets of awards presented at SSAFA’s Annual Members’ Meeting in London at the Victory Services Club by His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, SSAFA’s President.

Receiving the charity’s top honour was Juliet Chaplin, a much-loved volunteer who was awarded the SSAFA Gold Medal for her commitment, understanding, integrity and dedicated service to SSAFA over the course of 50 years, first as a staff member and latterly as the charity’s volunteer archivist.

The Gold Medal was approved in 2008 by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for exceptional service over a period of more than 10 years, and has been presented only twice since its introduction.

Though unable to attend in person, former para Chris Lewis was awarded the HRH Prince Michael of Kent Award for his stoic effort to circumnavigate the UK raising £500,000 for SSAFA and changing his life over the years his walk took. Sue Rollo, Vice-Chair of SSAFA’s Wiltshire also received this award, which was inaugurated by His Royal Highness.

Awards named in honour of SSAFA’s founder, Sir James Gildea, included to Torque Events for its “A Driving Force for SSAFA” fundraising initiative and to The Royal Homes staff team.

Among the 12 individual Sir James Gildea Global Awards presented to SSAFA volunteers were Jean Davidson (Northern Ireland), Wayne Carroll (South East Wales), George Givens (Scotland), and former Gurkha Chandra Budhathoki of the Berkshire branch. A full list is below.

All at SSAFA offer their warmest congratulations on these richly deserved awards to people, teams, and organisations that support the charity’s work for the UK’s Armed Forces community of serving and veteran personnel, and their families.

 

Sir James Gildea Global volunteer winners

• Syd Hopgood, Divisional Secretary, Shrewsbury, SSAFA Shropshire
• David Spalding, Branch Secretary, SSAFA Essex
• Dame Sylvia Morris, Branch Secretary and Divisional Secretary Merton Richmond & Wandsworth Division
• Jean Davidson, Branch President, SSAFA Northern Ireland
• Vikki Hawtree, Chair, Service Committee Team, Blandford, Bovington & Lulworth
• Antonia Reynolds, Fundraiser, SSAFA Plymouth
• Patricia Johnson, Branch Training Officer, SSAFA Herefordshire
• Brian Yates, Divisional Secretary, Harrow & Brent, SSAFA London North West
• Wayne Carroll, Divisional Secretary, Rhondda & Taff Ely Division, SSAFA South East Wales
• George Givens, Branch Chair, SSAFA Fife
• Chandra Budhathoki, Caseworker, SSAFA Berkshire
• Tracey Blake, Branch Administration Coordinator, SSAFA Cumbria
  
  

Sir James Gildea Global Staff Winners

• Laura Lewin
• David Harris
  
  

Sir James Gildea Global Staff Team Winner

• The Royal Homes
  
  

Sir James Gildea Partnering Award Winner

• A Driving Force for SSAFA
  
  

HRH Prince Michael of Kent Award

• Sue Rollo
• Christian Lewis
  
  

SSAFA Gold Medal

• Juliet Chaplin