Hambledon Village Shop volunteers are celebrating winning the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service as they await a presentation ceremony as guests of the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey.
The award is the highest given to volunteer groups throughout the UK and recognises their outstanding contribution to local communities. It was created by the Queen to mark her Golden Jubilee in 2002 and has an equivalent status for groups as the MBE has for individuals
For Hambledon it acknowledges the hard work and dedication of many villagers since the shop reopened as a community-run venture in 1992.
The award will be presented by Dame Sarah Goad, Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, the Queen’s representative in the county, at a ceremony later this year.
The presentation includes a certificate signed by the Queen and a commemorative crystal. Dame Sarah said the award reflected the “extraordinary levels of volunteering and selfless contributions that make a real difference to communities” and recipients “deserve our gratitude and congratulations”.
The Award’s Chair, former broadcast journalist Martyn Lewis CBE said: “The judging panel for this year’s awards were struck by the quality and breadth of all the successful groups. The thousands of volunteers who give up spare time to help others in their community and to help solve problems demonstrate the best of democracy in action.”
Hambledon Village Shop closed as a privately-run business in March 1991. The following year several villagers banded together to promote the idea of reopening it as a community venture. Supported by other residents £15,000 was raised towards refurbishing, re-fitting and stocking the shop.
It was reopened on November 14th, 1992, by the then local MP Virginia Bottomley, becoming one of the first community-run Post Office and stores in the country. It has been in business ever since, with a small number of paid staff, mostly part time, supported by dozens of volunteers on a rota system.
Along the way the Hambledon Village Trust was created and it purchased the premises from the previous owners, securing its future and becoming landlord.
In 2012 the shop celebrated 20 years of trading. Today it is at the heart of the community, offering essential Post Office services to villagers, a wide range of provisions including a deli and farm shop, and serving fresh food and drinks to locals and the many visitors it now attracts.