Queen's Birthday Honours for SSAFA staff and volunteers

15 June 2021

We are thrilled to see SSAFA staff and volunteers recognised in The Queen's Birthday Honours list!

Christina 'Tina' Graham, a volunteer based at SSAFA - Cyprus, has received a BEM for her lifetime commitment to the Armed Forces community.

Tina has been working with SSAFA for over 35 years. In 1986, she opened a SSAFA office in Belize where her husband was posted at the time. Before this, Tina was in the Princess Marys’ Royal Air Force Nursing Service and left in 1973 with the rank of Flying Officer.

For two years, Tina spent a considerable amount of time supporting the troops in the three outlying camps, namely Holdfast, Rideau, and Salamanca. Her office was in Airport Camp, Ladyville, and she spent many hours in helicopters visiting the troops in the camp.

On her return to the UK in November 1988, Tina became a caseworker at SSAFA Warwickshire, as well as supporting as a midwife and Manager of a private wing at Rugby St Cross Hospital. She later moved to Cyprus in 2003, where she became a very active caseworker with the SSAFA Cyprus Branch and went on to become the Branch Secretary in 2010 and then the Branch Chairman in 2011. She is now the Regional Chair for SSAFA Overseas.

Charlotte Eadie, Serving Community Development Manager at SSAFA, has received an MBE for her service to Army personnel and their families.

As Editor of Army&You Magazine, Army Families Federation - AFF, Charlotte committed herself to shining a spotlight on service families’ lives and ensuring they can access support in unexpected times of need.

Charlotte says: "It’s such a huge honour and surprise to receive an award for service to Army personnel and their families. I joined the service charity sector to give something back to the serving community who helped me when I was a new Army wife.

"I worked for the Army Families Federation for 18 years and have recently joined SSAFA as the Serving Community Development Manager. Through my role, I hope to continue that good work and ensure that the serving community know how SSAFA can support them in unexpected times of need; accessing emotional, practical, and financial support whenever they need it, wherever they may be."

Patricia Lyons a volunteer at Hampshire Branch of SSAFA the Armed Forces charity has received an MBE for over 24 years’ voluntary service to the Armed Forces community.

Patricia joined SSAFA Hampshire as a volunteer in 1993 and has been a member for over 24 years. She has been a caseworker, Divisional Secretary, Branch Secretary, and, since 2017, an outstanding Branch Chairman, managing one of the charity’s largest branches supporting members of the Armed Forces community. She is now the Branch Vice-President.

In 2018, SSAFA Hampshire completed over 1,000 cases and 150 visits to members of the Armed Forces community, raising a total of £717,471.00 to support the needs of beneficiaries in the region. Patricia understands that volunteers are the lifeblood of SSAFA and has made it her mission to ensure that all volunteers are fully supported both physically and mentally.