Queens Award for Voluntary Service

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We are extremely pleased and honoured to announce have been awarded The Queens Award for Voluntary Service.
This is an MBE equivalent and the highest award given to a voluntary group.
It is the first time a historic vessel preservation society has been honoured in this way.
The award was created in 2002 by Her Majesty the Queen to celebrate the anniversary of her Coronation and recognises excellence in voluntary service and activity carried out by groups in the community.
The assessment process for recommendation to The Queen for the award was conducted on behalf of Her Majesty by Captain Hugh Daglish LVO JP DL Royal Navy ex Commander of H. M. Yacht Britannia and His Honour Judge John Roberts DL. Who I hope had an interesting day aboard the tug.
The award citation honours the rescue and preservation of Kerne,
In 1971 Kerne was the last coal fired steamship to work commercially on the Mersey when our preservation group stepped in and saved her from the scrapyard. Since then, the steam tug has relied on the voluntary effort of its members, public donations and awards granted from The Transport Trust, National Historic Ships, The Pilgrim Trust and the Heritage Lottery Fund plus the support of many local businesses such as Cammell Laird, United Utilities, Mersey Tanker Lighterage and Peel Ports.
Chris Heyes and Paul Kirkbride are attending Buckingham Palace on Tuesday for a Royal Garden Party and The Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside is to make a presentation aboard Kerne at a later date. #QAVS2018 #bbcradiomerseyside #liverpoolecho #wirralglobe #shipsmonthly #transporttrust #oldglorymagazine #merseymaritime #peelports #thepilgrimtrust #unitedutilities #nationalhistoricshipsuk #merseysidemaritimemuseum #historicdockyardchatham

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