His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant’s annual awards evening, took place on Tuesday 1st October 2024, at the Royal Yacht Squadron.
Four British Empire Medals (BEM) were presented to:
Awards were also presented to Island residents, in recognition of their services to the community.
On Wednesday 17th September, the Lord-Lieutenant presented A J Wells with the King’s Award for Enterprise.
AJ Wells and Sons Ltd was established in 1972. Now based in Newport, it is still a family business. It designs and manufactures “Charnwood’ clean burning wood burning stoves; “Vlaze” outdoor kitchens; and vitreous enamel signage and cladding, including the iconic roundels for London
Underground.
The Company received the King’s Award for International Trade for Outstanding Short Term Growth in overseas sales over the last three years.
On Sunday 15th September, the Lord-Lieutenant attended the Minster church, where the Rev Chris Bradish was formally instituted, inducted and collated as the new team rector of Newport and Carisbrooke with Gatcombe. Bishop Jonathan led the service in Newport Minster, at which Chris also became area dean for the Isle of Wight.
On Wednesday 21st August 2024, the Lord-Lieutenant and Vice Lord-Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight, attended a service in the Peace Garden at St Lawrence, to commemorate the lost crew of HMCS Alberni on the 21st August 1944.
Captain Christopher Peschke, the naval attaché from the High
Commission in London and Mr Bob Sackett from the Alberni Project in Canada attended. The service of Remembrance was led by Rev Bob Marsh and the Archdeacon Rev Steve Daughtery gave the address and names of the 59 lost Canadian sailors were read out by Captain Peschke and Mr Bob Sackett.
A memorial plaque was unveiled by the Lord-Lieutenant and an oak bench inscribed with HMCS Alberni and the latitude & longitude of her resting place, 21 miles from the Island. This was unveiled by Mrs Diana McGreachan in memory of her cousin who was lost on the Alberni. The bench is on high ground facing south across the channel.
On Wednesday 14th August 2024, the Lord-Lieutenant presented Stainless Games with the King’s Award for Enterprise – International Trade for Outstanding Short-Term growth in overseas business over three years.
Stainless Games originally began trading in 1994, developing computer games and achieved early success with the game Carmageddon which was a number 1 best seller.
Since then, it has grown into a global business, employing some 80 people. Stainless Games develops computer games for many of the World’s largest media and games companies, such as Disney, Microsoft, Sega, Apple and Amazon, to name but a few, and in particular developed the best-selling Magic The Gathering series of titles based on the hugely successful physical card game.
On the evening of 30th July 2024 HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH arrived off Cowes. She had just returned to home waters after undergoing sea trials following repairs at Rosyth. The Commodore of the Royal Yacht Squadron, Sir James Holman, ordered the guns to be fired in salute as the carrier held station on the squadron gun line. This salute was returned from HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH with the crew lining the flight deck. The Commodore then raised his cap and led the many hundreds of spectators with three cheers to HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH. This was witnessed by the Lord-Lieutenant and squadron members.
On Friday 12th July, the Lord-Lieutenant presented the voluntary Crew and Coxswain of Sandown and Shanklin Independent Lifeboat with the Kings Award for Voluntary Service.
The presentation, at Sandown’s Broadway Centre, included an audience of almost 100 including newly elected East Wight MP Joe Robertson, Sandown Mayor Alex Lightfoot, former Mayors Heather Humby MBE, Paddy Lightfoot and Gary Young, Chair and Vice-Chair of IW Council Karl Love and Vanessa Churchman.
The Lord-Lieutenant said ‘The selfless dedication and commitment of Mark Birch, the Crew and the support team of fundraisers and volunteers, more than deserve recognition with the Award of the Kings Award of Voluntary Service.’
Coxswain Mark Birch added ‘It was a great honour to accept the Award on behalf of the crew and all involved with Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat, especially from the Lord-Lieutenant who has been incredibly supportive since coming into post.’
Lifeboat Volunteers also enjoyed a specially made Kings Award cake, cut by the Lord-Lieutenant, with all members receiving special Kings Award badges in recognition of their individual contribution and service to the community of the Bay and the Island.
Mrs Sheldon concluded ‘The Independent Lifeboat Team are only 1 of 262 recipients nationally, and it was a delight to see the importance of the award to Mark and all involved.”
Created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee, the Award, now the Kings Award, shines a light on the fantastic work of Voluntary Groups across the Country, and is equivalent to the MBE, and is the highest award given to local voluntary groups.
On Sunday 30th June 2024, Vice Lord-Lieutenant Brigadier Maurice Sheen CBE QVRM TD DL attended Armed Forces Day on behalf of the Lord-Lieutenant.
The day started with a display from the Red Arrows followed by Brigadier Sheen taking the Salute during the Parade. After the opening ceremony, the crowds were entertained by marching bands, singers, Royal Navy Parachute Display Team and many more.
The event concluded with the closing ceremony. Lord-Lieutenant Cadet Sergeant Maisie Henderson and D Day veteran Alec Penstone joined Brigadier Sheen on the stage.
