Two of the area’s best-loved organisations have been recognised with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. Both Friends of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust and Burwarton and District Agricultural Society have received the prestigious award – ‘the MBE for volunteer groups’.
Burwarton Show chair Mike Bradbury explains, “The dedicated team of 400+ people is made up of a combination of committee members, stewards and local supporters young and old, who all make Burwarton Show the success it is every first Thursday in August.
“We’re honoured to be commended with this prestigious award. Many of the committee and stewards have been involved for well over 20 years and, with 2016 being the show’s 125th year, the award is extremely fitting.”
Friends of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust was founded in 1968 to support the fledgling Museum. Chair Geraldine King says, “I pay tribute to all the present and past Friends whose unstinting work has made this award possible. From the time of the first Museum Open Day in September 1969, there have always been Friends willing to give their time freely in support of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust.”
