One memorable day, one momentous occasion, a lifetime of gratitude…
The People’s Honours – a legacy
Stuart Clewlow BCAc
“A belated “thank you” for everything you and the team did to make the BCA Ceremony last week, something very special.
It was a great atmosphere and an event that I will have fond memories of for a very long time.
The whole day was very well organised and it was a credit to everyone involved.
If at all possible, please pass on my thanks and appreciation to Matt. His presentation throughout the ceremony was absolutely impeccable and came across very sincere and engaging. I appreciate that with such an eclectic group of people, its difficult to keep everyone entertained and involved, but he did a great job.
Again, thank you very much”.
Kind regards,
Stu
Margaret Holstead BCAc
Re: Margaret Holstead’s BCA
“I just wanted to thank you and all the BCA team for the wonderful day of celebrations for the recipients of the BCA.
I was very lucky to be one of the people to accompany Margaret Holstead and bask a bit in her glory!
From start to finish, you went over and beyond to make this such a special day for all the participants and one of the best days in the lives of many of them I am sure.
The welcome with prosecco was great, the venue was spectacular, Matt Allwright as the master of ceremonies was terrific, the meal wonderful and the afternoon tea a lovely surprise. We had a great time on the walk through the historic halls and found the open-top bus tour a delight!
Margaret was beyond thrilled to get the award and she is a perfect example of an unsung hero.
Many thanks again for your amazing award, and for making the recipients’ special day so great”.
Very best wishes
Sheila churchill
Nathan Atkinson BCAc
“Just a quick note to say “thank you” for such a wonderful day yesterday.
My wife and I had a truly memorable day and appreciate the hard work and dedication required to make such an event possible. Please pass on our thanks to everybody in the team, it was a fantastic day.
Thanks again and have a well deserved weekend”.
Kym Morris, BCAc
“I just wanted to drop you an email following yesterday’s incredible day. I have met some amazing people over my (very long) years, but yesterday it was a true honour to be in a room full of such incredible, brave, inspirational individuals.
I just want to thank you all so very much; it was such a well-organised day. I can only speak from my own experience, but I felt so incredibly well looked after. Your warmth and professionalism shone through. The reception drinks and welcome were so warm and lunch was of Michelin standard, and what can I say about that afternoon tea? I was in heaven!
Please pass on my thanks to your incredible team and the assessors for allowing me to be included in such a prestigious award. I’m still in shock now.
This was a day that will always remain right up there in my special memories box”.
Sarah Bernasconi Parsons BCAv
“THANK YOU & the team so so so much for THE BEST DAY EVER!
I had the most amazing time and was truly blown away by all the people attending & receiving a BCA!
Honestly I can’t thank you all enough for helping me break the taboo around baby and child loss by letting me speak about Maggie.
I’m soooo sorry for crying xx
Lyn Neville - Parent of our BCyA medal recipient Elly Neville
“Hello, I wanted to let you know that my daughter received a B.E.M. in the King’s New Year Honours List 2024. The citation read – “For Charitable Services to Cancer Patients and Cancer Services in Pembrokeshire”. Elly received her BCyA in 2016 and we are still so proud and loved that amazing day. Her Elly’s Ward 10 Flag Appeal went on to raise £213,500 for the Cancer Ward and a further £16,500 for Children’s Services. Happy New Year & Best Wishes, Mr Lyn Neville – (Elly’s Proud Dad)
Muhammed Mostofa Khan, BCAc
“I email you all at The British Citizen Award to express my heartfelt thanks and that of my family for such a warm welcome, reception and ceremony proceedings during the event. We all thoroughly felt that your hosting, organisation and hospitality towards us left its mark in feeling included as part of the BCA community and wider society.
I can only commend and express our gratitude to all for the level of professionalism that has been exemplified and hard work you each invested in to ensure that the day transpired to be such a memorable occasion. My children too both had a day to remember, a positive experience with history, architecture and heritage and all being so kind towards them.
I remain at your disposal and again, my appreciation to each of you for that which you have exhausted and accomplished”.
Deborah Fitzpatrick BCAc
“I wanted to thank all the Team at the BCA Team for in an incredible day yesterday. The staff went out of their way to make us feel comfortable in a very formal environment. I have to say I really enjoyed the whole day and wish to convey my thanks for everything you do. The organisation of the whole day was perfect. I am truly touched to be part of the BCA family”.
Matt Allwright was a wonderful presenter and made everyone relax which I thought was a great touch..”
Dawn Murray BCAh
“I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you and everyone involved in organising the awards ceremony, it was such a memorable day. Myself, my husband and my guest Andrew, thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it from the moment we arrived at the Palace of Westminster, the open top bus lap of honour, and the certificate presentation in the evening.
I felt very honoured to be part of the day and to receive such a wonderful prestigious award, once again thank you to everyone involved”.
Ram Gupta BCAe
“I just wanted to say a huge thank you to the both of you and tour team. We had a fabulous day and met some really wonderful people.
It’s really appreciated and it’s a day we won’t ever forget. Your hard work was visible”.
Thank you again and speak soon.
Aarti Shah - Parent of BCyA medal recipients, Krish, Rohan and Anokhi
“Thank you very much. We received the medals, certificates and lovely USB in the post today and the children realise quite how real it is. I told them they are probably one of the younger recipients and I think they did realise what a lovely honour they have been given. So thank you very much-it has indeed been a long journey and lovely to see support for charity work at a young age; I do believe the sense of charity has no age bounds”.
Jim Montgomerie BCAv
“My family and I had the most enjoyable experience at Westminster for the BCA.
I would like to offer my services voluntary of course for future award ceremonies.Is this something you would consider?I would like to help in some way”.
Natalie Walker - Parent of BCyA medal recipient, Joseph.
“Joseph received his medal and I have never seen him smile with pride so much! We are all so very proud of him. Joseph has watched the messages so many times and again continues to wear the biggest smile. Again, on behalf of Joseph thank you so so so much for this honour. We will look forward to meeting you all in the future”.
Jon Dalton BCAv
“Just a quick but heartfelt thank you for such a memorable day for me. From beginning to end it was a fantastic experience! From a medalist point of view it seemed to go perfectly, without any hitches and flow smoothly from one location to another. The guests I invited from Wooburn Residents’ Association and 1st Wooburn Scouts all thoroughly enjoyed their evening bus lap of honour & Certificate presentation reception.
I will cherish my medal and wear it with pride on my scout uniform!
Once again a huge thank you to you and all the BCA team”.
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Penny Wardle
“Just wanted to say a huge thank you for the BCA event….. Mum and I had a really fabulous day from start to finish. We both thought that your planning and organisation were excellent…. the day flowed beautifully and all the different parts were really enjoyable. We were also honoured and humbled to meet the other recipients……weren’t there some amazing stories?! We’ve not stopped talking about it all!!”
Lisa Collins - Objective HR
“Just a quick note to say a massive thank you and well done to you for all the hard work that went into such a seamless and fantastic day. Laura and I are talking about it this morning and the team are inspired by the stories. It was such an amazing day – they just get better and better”.
Martin Wyatt, BCAa
“To all of the amazing team behind BCA – a huge thank you for such kind words, superb organisation, inspiring encouragement and a beautiful flow of events. You are all so sincere and dedicated, it’s a joy. Much love and peace”.
Joyce Rothschild, BCAv
“Many thanks for all your hard work. You have been amazing in how you have kept us all posted even with information – and I had such a wonderful day. I still cant believe it all happened!”.
Alison Bond - The Halo Works
“I loved it all, thank you so much for inviting me to be part of the panel, and to come to the ceremony, it feels a massive honour and the ability to do anything to help with The BCA’s in not something I would ever want to miss. You and your team work exceptionally hard, and quite brilliantly, if I could hand out an award I would give one to each of you”.
Michelle Beat - Irwin Mitchell Solicitors
” I can fully appreciate all of the hard work that you will have put in to make your medal presentations happen. Medallists are made to feel very special. It was lovely to see so many happy faces and even some tears of joy as the medallist collected their medals. They will remember that day for a very long time. Thank you for approaching Irwin Mitchell. We’ve found it a truly heart felt and warming experience”.
Jo Delbridge - Specsavers
“Thanks so much for inviting us – was a really lovely event – funny, moving, heart-warming and well organised”.
Chantal Lockey, BCAh
“I wanted to thank you so very much for such a wonderful day. It was a real joy and honour to be in the same room as so many wonderful people. It was organised wonderfully. I think it is such a wonderful thing to be running. I would like to get involved as a Ambassadors should you require my services. I am happy to put a link on to my website and such and I would be happy to talk at functions and future awards and also drum up support at a local level and beyond. I am more than happy to offer my services to the BCA’s on-going”.
Graham Penness BCAc
“Having time to read the many emails Facebook entries and cards of congratulations , I just wanted to place on record my sincere gratitude to you , personally , and all of your colleagues at BCA who made my day a truly wonderful one. Everything worked out perfectly. So thank you once again and may I wish you , personally , and the BCA collectively , every success in the future”.
Patsy Elliott, BCAv – Nominator: Kathleen Mitchinson
“We had a great time, Patsy was overwhelmed by the people who spoke to her and praised her for what she has done”.
Jane Newton, BCAc
“It was a most memorable day and it certainly exceeded all my expectations. It was such a wonderful opportunity for me to be able to witness some of the amazing accomplishments of the medalists. I felt very privileged to be able to share the day and remain in awe of such exceptional people”.
Brian Kay, BCAv and Mary Kay, BCAv
“Mary and I would like to thank you very much for the lovely day , everyone was so kind and made us very welcome”.
Martin Wyatt BCAa
“Thank you so much for the amazing day and for these photos. You all deserve a medal too. Much love and peace”.
Pat Caffrey BCAv and Nominator: Carole Riley
“I hope you and the British Citizen Award team are all well following such a hectic time for you. Thank you so much for all your help, advice, support and very warm hospitality leading up to and during the medal presentations. We got great coverage over 5 news bulletins on Radio City yesterday with clips of an interview done with Pat and I on Friday morning – The Liverpool Echo are covering the story “.
Mary Rae, BCAa
“The whole ceremony and Lap of Honour were wonderful, and so well organised which, as you will have no doubt gathered from my nomination, is something I strive to achieve, in fact, the whole process has been excellent, and may I say, so pleasant. I have been overwhelmed by all the attention I have had since Thursday’s embargo was lifted. I have been live on BBC local radio, articles have been in local newspapers, I know I am to have some national publicity, and the amount of congratulations I have received on social media, cards, etc has been phenomenal, Norfolk has certainly become aware of the British Citizen Award. As Will Gore wrote in his article in the i on Friday, we all got there despite the Tube strike. Betty, David and I have forgotten our horrendous journeys to and from the Palace of Westminster, it didn’t matter as the actual ceremony was memorable and humbling”.
Bill Rowlings BCAc
“Just a quick note to say how much I; and presumably the other 27 recipients, of this first British Citizens Award, appreciated the welcome extended to us. I have seldom experience such a well organised exercise in the art of communication through the media of e-mail. THANKYOU. I would also like to thank you all for making the afternoon tea event such a jolly occasion. Michael Underwood was exquisite at keeping the presentations on track. I was honoured to have been presented my Medal by Baroness Cox – All in all a humbling yet uplifting experience. Thank you”.
Tracy Maher BCAc
“Thank you so much for the wonderful BCA event. The stories that we heard we both humbling and inspirational. Long may these awards continue in celebrating the unsung heroes of our society. Well done to everyone who organised it and thank you once again, I will wear my medal with pride!”
Claire Guest BCAh and Magic (assistance dog)
“Thank you so much for a fantastic day yesterday. It was a huge honour for me to receive this award and was a wonderful afternoon”.