Queen's Award for Voluntary Services.

To all you lovely people who make up the

IOW Green Gym

As those of you who were present today will know, we have been awarded the prestigious award - the Queens Award for Voluntary Services.

I was asked by several people for a copy of the application - I attach it to this email, but as Mark has the up to date email address list, I am sending this to him and asking him to forward it to you all.

We had a wonderful morning at Brighstone Primary School where we celebrated our Honour with two of Gwen's delicious cakes, beautifully decorated in red white and blue and green, and absolutely scrumptious, and some fizz, balloons, ribbons, medals, and lots of good cheer.

The children presented to Mark a framed copy of the QAVS logo as the "real" presentation is not until later, they cheered the group as they walked into the area chosen for the celebrations and it was lovely to see all those surprised faces and big cheesy grins.

Congratulations to each and every one of you. Your efforts within Green Gym are outstanding and unequalled and this award is fully deserved - so all out on the razzle tonight, eh?

I also attach a copy of the Press Release, the outline of which was sent to us by the Palace and we just filled in the blanks.

It is expected that the announcement will be in Monday's issue of the London Gazette, it was due to be in yesterday's publication issued on the anniversary of the Coronation of the Queen but it has been delayed.

The County Press were with us today so there may be a picture in this week's edition. We have lots of photographs if anyone wants a copy emailed to them.

Always leaving the best to last.............our thanks go to you Mark, without you Green Gym would not be what it is and certainly would not achieve anything as much as it does. Your standing within the "green" community on the Island means Green Gym gets to visit sites that are both interesting and very rewarding and this makes each Wednesday a pleasure. So thank you Mr. Chairman for being you and for leading us onwards and upwards [and don't you dare delete this paragraph before forwarding!].

June

Note from the Blogmaster - I am still working on how to publish the actual documents refered to above...........watch this space......!!!!!