‘Friends of’ group receives award from His Majesty the King

A local ‘Friends of’ group has been recognised for their hard work with a prestigious award from His Majesty The King.

Friends of Hadlow Road Station Community Group (FHRS) have been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2025.  This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to support their communities.  It was created in 2002 to celebrate Her Late Majesty The Queen’s Golden Jubilee and was continued following the accession of His Majesty The King. 2025 marks the third year of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Neighbourhood Pride, Councillor Stuart Bingham said: 

“Huge congratulations to everyone involved.  Their work, reminds us of all the ways fantastic volunteers are contributing to their local communities and working to make life better for those around them.

“The late Councillor Hogg was a passionate supporter of Friends of Hadlow Road Station, I am sure he would have been delighted to see this award given in recognition of all the groups hard work and dedication.”

Paul Cox, Chair of FHRS, said:

“I am very proud that we have received this award and its recognition for all the dedication, energy, time, effort and commitment given by the volunteers past and present plus the magnificent support we receive from our customers who attend our pop up cafes come rain or shine.  Also to the local and wider communities that come to the station and enjoy the environment that we maintain for their pleasure.

“Although this award is a group one I feel I need to highlight the dedication, commitment, tenacity and drive given by our ex-Chair Chris Hampshire who over the years has led us to where we are today.”

The friends of group was set up following a village wide consultation in 2014. Willaston Residents’ & Countryside Society (WR&CS) identified Hadlow Road Station as a community asset, however the station and its surroundings were in a very dilapidated state and so a ‘Friends Group’ of volunteers was created in 2015 to improve and maintain the station for the benefit of the community.

Many locals came forward to offer their skills and expertise to work towards the group’s aims and objectives to deliver the significant improvements.

Former Chair of the Group, Chris Hampshire added:

“I am proud and honoured that this wonderful group of FHRS volunteers who have given their time and expertise freely, have received such a prestigious award and am delighted that the work of the numerous volunteers maintaining and enhancing the station for the benefit of our community has been recognized nationally.

“As a group, we also very much appreciate the assistance we have received from supporters, local businesses and the Council who offered their expertise, engineering skills, woodwork, painting, groundworks, etc, and not forgetting our local councillor, the late Myles Hogg.”

FHRS will receive the KAVS crystal and certificate from Lady Redmond, Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire in April/May next year.

Further information about the award can be found here:

https://kavs.dcms.gov.uk/

The King's Award for Voluntary Service - official website