Hambledon Village Shop volunteers recognised for their service to community during pandemic

In an informal, outdoor, socially distanced event at the Shop last Thursday 10th June, a core group of shop volunteers were presented with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service pins by Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey, Michael More-Molyneux. The event was also attended by Julie Llewelyn, High Sheriff of Surrey

The presentation recognised the volunteers who worked so hard to serve the village during lockdown, by transforming the shop into an on-line delivery service. During the first coronavirus lockdown between late March 2020 and the end of June 2020, the shop picked, packed and delivered almost 2500 grocery orders, at times doing over 60 a day. This allowed customers to safely and responsibly do their grocery shopping from home at a time when the supermarkets were struggling to cope with demand.

The shop volunteers have previously received The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2015. Equivalent to an MBE, QAVS are the highest awards given to local voluntary groups in the UK, and they are awarded for life. As the award could not be given again, it was decided to recognise the individuals involved during the pandemic by presenting them with QAVS pins.

The event, on a beautiful sunny day, was covered by both Radio Surrey and BBC South Today. The BBC South Today piece is available below for those who missed it.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

1 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Eamonn mccaugherty
Eamonn mccaugherty
2 years ago

Well done to the Hambledon shop I went to school back in the 1970s in
the village have beautiful memories and I’m glad they have the volunteers honoured well done 👌👏