Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service at a ceremony in the city’s historic Guidhall.
The Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Ian Dudson, presented a certificate, signed by Her Majesty the Queen, to LHCRT president Eric Wood at the event, attended by many of the Trust’s volunteers as well as civic dignitaries and representatives of groups and businesses who have played a part in the on-going restoration of the canals.The Queen’s Award, the equivalent of the MBE for voluntary sector organisations, recognises the outstanding contribution made to local communities by individuals devoting their time for the benefit of others.The citation praises Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust for ‘restoring a derelict canal to improve the environment and for the benefit of the local community, wildlife and tourism’.
LHCRT chairperson Christine Bull introduced the guests, who as well as the Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire included the Sheriff of Lichfield, Dr Daryl Brown, the Mayor of Lichfield, Deborah Baker and the leader of Lichfield District Council, Doug Pullen. Representatives from Queen’s Croft High School and Foresters Scouts, who provide regular helpers for Trust work, were also among the guests, as were representatives from Chasewater Civil Engineering, Clarke Construction Ltd and Wacker Neuson, whose help in providing materials and plant have been invaluable to the Trust.
A showing of the video log ‘Cruising The Cut’, produced by David Johns and focusing on the volunteer achievements of the Trust, which has been viewed over 445,000 times on YouTube, was followed by a talk by Trust engineering director Peter Buck on volunteering in action, outlining the scale and achievements of the Trust’s voluntary efforts. Watch the video 'Cruising The Cut' here.
The Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire then presented the QAVS certificate to Eric Wood, and also a commemorative crystal to site leader Hugh Millington. Praising the collective contribution volunteers had made, the Lord Lieutenant said the award was richly deserved.
From his business background in the Potteries, he recognized the importance of canals to the county, and when he was High Sheriff in 2010 he took the opportunity of walking every mile of navigable canals in Staffordshire, a total of 154 miles. “I now realise in the last few years that I didn’t walk every mile of water-filled canal in the county (a reference to a short stretch of the Lichfield Canal that was put in water a few years ago) and that if you are successful in your aims I’ll have several more miles to do before I can continue to say with honesty that I’ve walked every mile of the canals in Staffordshire,” he added.
Christine Bull called on Queen’s Croft High School pupil Charlotte Botterill to propose the loyal toast to Her Majesty the Queen, and a vote of thanks to all volunteers was proposed by Duke of Edinburgh’s Award participant Olivia Baker.
Following the formalities there was time for refreshments and a chat with volunteers past and present. You can see more pictures from the event in our Facebook Album and there is a short YouTube video to give a flavour of the afternoon, including the main presentation.
Many thanks to John & Jill Bryan and helpers for organising a most enjoyable event.
