Rochdale Heartbeat hosts ceremony celebrating its Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

Maggie Mather (right) receiving the certificate and crystal from Vivien Carter MBE JP DL BEd

Members of local charity Rochdale Heartbeat held their own ceremony celebrating the group’s Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service last week.

Rochdale Heartbeat held their presentation, officiated by the Queen's representative, Vivien Carter MBE JP DL BEd, one of the Deputy Lieutenants of Greater Manchester, in St Ann's Church Hall on Wednesday 20 October.

The members of Heartbeat decided to hold their own ceremony as only two people are allowed to attend the official ceremony held at Gorton Monastry, due to Covid-19.

Commonly known as the MBE for volunteer groups, the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee. Recipients are announced each year on 2 June, the anniversary of the Queen's Coronation.
 

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Rochdale Heartbeat was nominated for the award by Robert Clegg OBE, who sadly died last month: members of the charity had hoped he would be able to attend the presentation celebration with them.
 

Read more: Robert Clegg OBE - Former councillor who helped build Springhill Hospice diesPublished: 28 September 2021

A representative from Rochdale Heartbeat said: “The members are extremely delighted to be receiving this award for all their efforts and commitment.”

Since Rochdale Heartbeat was formed in 1988, the members have worked to raise funds to provide medical equipment for the local hospitals, defibrillators for the community and support, advice and exercise sessions for heart patients and their families.