Pride of Britain winners nominated for honours?
Watching the Pride of Britain Awards on TV on Wednesday night was, without doubt, an emotional experience. Much to their credit, the Pride of Britain Awards bring to the fore some of the most inspirational tales of determination and endeavour. Prior to their inception, many of these wonderful achievements went unrecognised, and in turn, the inspirational tales of many of these quiet achievers went unheard.
While listening to many of the stories on Wednesday night it struck us how many of these people have achievements that would be considered more than worthy of a Queen’s Honour. In no particular order, here are three of our favourites from this year’s Pride of Britain Awards:
Steve Dayman’s son, Spencer, was taken from him after he contracted meningitis at just 14 months old. The experience clearly had a major effect on Steve (pictured above), who has dedicated his life to furthering our understanding, and fighting the condition. He established the Meningitis Research in 1989, raised more than £2m in charity walks and was at the forefront of the introduction of the life-saving tumbler test in 1990. Steve was also instrumental in setting up Meningitis UK in 1999 and helping the charity raise £7.5million for research. In April 2013 Meningitis UK merged with the Meningitis Trust to form Meningitis Now and Steve is still active in a campaigning role to this day.
The story of Betty McGlinchey, a foster mother from Scotland living in Coventry, was also incredibly moving. For over 40 years she provided a safe, supportive and loving environment for the 1200 children who passed through her care. While foster carers are ofter awarded honours, it seems likely that only very few would have looked after so many children.
The British Armed Forces team for the Invictus Games also stood out. Their incredible reserves of determination and strength are a wonderful source of inspiration for everyone. The team, made up of wounded, sick or injured former service men, and their amazing performance across the 5 days of the games, captured the imagination of the country.
Queen’s honours are the UK’s way of recognising and highlighting exceptional achievements and individuals. Selfless people who dedicate their time to helping others; who improve life and make a practical change, or who are inspirational to their peers, are all prime candidates for awards such as the MBE, OBE, CBE and knighthood. But to make sure they get the recognition they deserve they must first be nominated – and this is where you come in!
When considering whether to nominate someone for an honour, look not just at their achievements in the context of others, but at the impact of their life and work, and those deserving recipients will soon stand out – no matter who they are and what they do.
Can you think of someone you would like to nominate for a gong? For an honest opinion of your nominee’s chances of success call us now on +44 (0)1444 230130 or email enquiries@awardsintelligence.co.uk for our free, informal assessment of your chances of success.
Please note: individuals profiled or referred to on this Blog are not necessarily clients of Awards Intelligence.
