The Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland
Serving The Queen and the community of Rutland
Rutland Rotaract Family Support Group and & OHC Rutland facilitated a production of The Firebird by Bamboozle UK (Empowering learning disabled children & young people through immersive experiences.) A wonderful series of puppets plus talented actors, they had us all entranced. Thanks to the organisers and to Oakham School for allowing the use of the sports pavilion.
23rd September: Congratulations to all involved in the Rutland foodbank, which has seen a massive increase in need for its services due to Covid. In the last year they have delivered ingredients for 43,000 meals. I was pleased at last officially to open its new premises in Oakham, but remain concerned that Rutland has real rural poverty. Thanks to all.
19th September – Thanks to all the organisers (especially Ron & Margaret Simpson) and participants for a memorable day at the ‘All Round Rutland Run’ for Classic Cars. Brilliant! I felt like a Bond girl in a DB4.5 Aston Martin. A great fun day and it raised money for Warning Zone & Dying Matters.
A mammoth community effort to create a stunning facility for this vibrant Rutland village. Thanks to all villagers Rutland Council & funders @ACREcampaigns @bernardsunley GarfieldWeston, HeritageFundUK, European Union – not to mention several generous local funders, some of whom chose to remain anonymous.
September 8th:
I was proud to take the salute:
One of the great pleasures of being Lord-Lieutenant is that I am occasionally asked to present National Honours to Rutland residents on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen. This year Rutlanders have been awarded a disproportionately large number of honours in relation to the size of our population – a reflection of our county’s volunteering spirit, I believe.
The Rutland Rotoract Family Support Group have won a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service for providing support to families with children with additional needs. Thanks to the Rutland Lions for providing abarbeque and the wonderful Pippa Owen.
The British Empire Medal (BEM) is awarded for outstanding service to the community.
Congratulations to Jacqui Darlington on being awarded her richly deserved British Empire Medal for her work over years setting up OHCRutland (a group helping young adults with additional needs to go out with peers, supported by age appropriate Leaders, to do what others take for granted), her work with Healthwatch Rutland Carers UK and much more!
It was great pleasure to award Archie Sains for stalwart #volunteer service over 18 years to Voluntary Action Rutland , LOROS Hospice , Rutland Council and at Rutland Museum .
8th September: Rutland’s Vaccination Programme rolled out fast, had high uptake, largely thanks to enormous continued volunteer support. It must have saved many lives. I was delighted to thank Dr Hilary Fox, the local mastermind, and all our volunteers.
3rd September – it’s always good to celebrate those who keep our country supplied; recent events have shown it’s still a dangerous job in some parts of the world, even in times of ‘peace’.
In a somewhat Covid-restricted ceremony we nevertheless raised the Red Duster at Oakham Castle. The flag was raised by Captain Robert Strick (on my right). I was particularly pleased that the Navy Regional Commander for Eastern England, Commodore Bellfield (on my left) was able to join us – marking the links between the Royal Navy & Merchant Navy.
It is good that philanthropy, charitable effort & community support have been recognised in the Queens Birthday Honours. In Rutland we have received considerably more honours than might be expected from the size of our population. We should be especially proud of Sir William Adderley (Knight Bachelor); Ali Wainwright MBE (especially for work with the foodbank); Peter Lawson BEM and Janet Thompson BEM. Congratulations !
June 5th: It was so good to meet up with Rutland veterans along with with past and present High Sherriffs & Healthwatch Rutland, all outside The Grainy for the first breakfast club since Covid restrictions have been eased. ‘Zoom’ is nothing quite like seeing people in person – even if still socially distanced.
