Lisa's Award

Just got back from London from the SSAFA Forces Help annual general meeting, where my wife Lisa won “Service Volunteer of the Year 2008/09″.

SSAFA is a charity that helps serving and former servicemen and women, their families and dependents.  Dealing with a wide range of issues, from bereavement to housing and even adoption.

Lisa has been an in-service volunteer for a couple of years and has recently been appointed as volunteer coordinator in Wattisham, as the previous co-ordinator’s husband has been posted.  She has been very heavily involved in fund-raising over the last year, giving up her time at the Wattisham Triathlon (which she is now training to take part in), open days and every event I can think of in the area over the last few years.  Running monthly bingo nights and having taken part in several courses, she is very enthusiastic and I’ve hardly seen her this year!  Lets not forget that we have three children between seven and twelve, how she does charity work, cycles every night and keeps an immaculately clean house I will never know.  Certainly don’t know how she fits this around a Foundation Degree in Youth Justice

Nominated for going further than is required in two high profile cases involving deployed soldiers families in difficult circumstances she really deserved this recognition and I couldn’t be prouder of her.

We arrived at the Union Jack Club in the afternoon and had a couple in the bar before suiting up for a meet and greet at SSAFA’s head office.  Buffet dinner was OK but the wine was flowing freely and I think her nerves got to her so we ended up somewhat unsteadily heading back to the UJC at around nine and heading back to the bar, where the world was put to rights before hunting down a McDonalds at midnight (thankfully London doesn’t seem to sleep).

Up early, as Lisa was worrying about meeting Prince Michael of Kent, we went for a full english in the UJC restaurant before getting ready.  Once we arrived at Henry Wood Hall, we didn’t need to sit in on the AGM so waited downstairs until eleven.  Then it was time for Lisa to get really nervous as we noticed the seats around us reserved for lords, ladies and generals.

The keynote speaker – Ms Jo Swinhoe, from the Alzheimer’s Society, gave an excellent speech on recording our experiences of conflict that others can understand how it affects all involved.  She suggested that although technology affords us the ability to communicate more quickly, there is a risk that there is no longer a record to pass on our experiences to our children.

Soon enough though it was time for the presentation and off she went, shaking, curtsying and I don’t think she could have got back to her seat quicker if she’d jumped off the platform.  Honestly, I thought she would faint.

So it was off downstairs for the reception, with our yellow VIP badges.  Some outstanding canapes – scallops in bacon, salmon fishcakes and the best steak and hollandaise sauce I have ever tasted.  I don’t drink alcohol but there was no shortage of orange juice.  Prince Michael introduced himself to us and he congratulated Lisa again and we talked a little about what we did.  He was very relaxed and put us all at ease.  Not every day you get to shake hands with royalty.

With the hard part over everyone relaxed and we had a few drinks before heading back to the UJC and back to Suffolk.  Quite an experience.

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