A very special soirée for National Volunteers’ Week this year as we celebrate the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, which was announced in the national press on June 2.
Mrs Patricia Partridge DL, who has a responsibility for the Voluntary Sector on the Isle of Wight, asked if she could come and celebrate this wonderful achievement with the group, and we were honoured to invite her. Thirty volunteers attended the event in the Royal Victoria Arcade, on a glorious evening, to hear speeches from HRS Chair Brian, Patricia herself, and Cllr Roger Whitby Smith, who had nominated the group for the award last summer. All were full of glowing praise for the work of all the volunteers, who have created Ryde District Heritage Centre from scratch over the last six years.
Copies of the letters of support, written by Richard Smout, Isle of Wight Heritage Service, and Lee Byrne, Principal Conservation Officer for the Isle of Wight Council, were on display for all the volunteers to read. Added to these were emails sent by the membership and others since the award was announced.
Thanks to Diana, Liz and Lesley for organising the evening.
