RIGHT Royal celebrations were the order of the day for volunteer members of the The Knowle Society after the organisation was handed a Queen’s Award.
Dubbed the MBE of voluntary organisations, the award was handed to the charity on behalf of its dedicated volunteers – including the keeper of the village scrapbook, newsletter distributors and litter pickers to members who spend hours working on complex planning proposals, rescuing historic buildings and carpeting a village with spring bulbs.
It was presented at a special ceremony in Knowle by David Bradnock, Deputy Lord Lieutenant for the West Midlands who said selection and vetting for organisations was very rigorous.
He presented the award to David Bower – the son of the founder and first President of the Society Dr R J Bower – and the citation to Leighton Jones, a recent Chairman.
Also present at the ceremony were Solihull mayor and Mayoress, Mike and Jenny Robinson – and Coun Bob Sleigh, Chairman of the new West Midlands Combined Authority who spoke of the importance of volunteering life in the borough – praising the work of The Knowle Society.
The Society’s current chairman, Bill Bohanna presented gifts to the principal guests, including miniatures of the glass Queen’s Award.
A spokesperson for The Knowle Society said: “A glass of wine and some ‘award winning’ nibbles from the catering volunteers ended an outstanding evening in which there had been a strong feeling that the quiet, unsung efforts of the ordinary ‘little man or woman’ were indeed being recognised and valued at the highest level as the all-important glue which cements a strong nation and a thriving and much valued local community.
