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Friday 24th July
The Beautiful Battle volunteers received the Queens Award for Voluntary
Service from the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex at a presentation in the Almonry. In addition to receiving a certificate signed by the
Queen the group also received an exclusive commemorative crystal. In his presentation speech the Lord Lieutenant informed
those attending that out of hundreds of nominations received 406 volunteering groups from across the UK had been short listed
to receive the award. Out of these 95 volunteer groups were announced as 2009 winners on 2nd June, the Queens 57th anniversary
of accession to the throne. Beautiful Battle was one of only two voluntary groups in East Sussex to be successful this year.
The pictures show Margaret Emeleus receiving the award from the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex (Peter Field) and a group photograph
of others in attendance. These included the Vice Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex (Sara Stonor), the High Sheriff (Bill Shelford),
and Chris Dowling, Vice Chairman of East Sussex County Council."
Dressed
to see the Queen
Rarely are
the Beautiful Battle Volunteers seen 'dressed for a Queen'. So it was, that four of the committee left Battle Station
on Tuesday morning to attend the last of the 2009 Royal Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace. Margaret Emeleus, Diana &
Alan Watson and Alan Cole joined several thousand others from all over the country to enjoy an afternoon in The Palace Garden.
Her Majesty The Queen and Prince Philip were in attendance. The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service which the Group
received in the Queens Jubilee Honours announced in June will be formally presented on Friday at the Almonry, by
the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex.
2ND JUNE 2009
The Queen pays tribute to BATTLE volunteering group with
prestigious Award
BEAUTIFUL BATTLE from Battle, East
Sussex has been announced as one of 95 volunteering groups from across the UK winning this year’s Queen’s
Award for Voluntary Service, recognising the outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups voluntarily devoting
their time for the benefit of others.
The prestigious National Honour, which is equivalent
to the MBE, sets the national benchmark for excellence in volunteering, and the activities of those awarded have been judged
of the highest standard.
BEAUTIFUL BATTLE has received the Award for its work in maintaining and enhancing the environmental quality of Battle, and in leading the town entries to the regional Britain
in Bloom competitions.
Winners of this year’s Award were
selected from 406 groups nominated by members of the public who have been helped personally or witnessed the benefits of a
group’s work in their community.
BEAUTIFUL BATTLE will receive a certificate signed by the Queen
and an exclusive commemorative crystal. These will be presented by Her Majesty's
representative, The Lord Lieutenant of EAST SUSSEX,
at a special ceremony arranged by the Lieutenancy office. Group representatives
have also received an invitation to a Royal Garden Party event at Buckingham Palace in the summer.
Speaking of their success, Margaret
Emeleus from BEAUTIFUL BATTLE said: ‘’ We are
thrilled to have received this prestigious honour, which recognises the contribution made by the volunteers to the community
of Battle.’’
The Award is overseen by the Office of the Third Sector, in the Cabinet Office. Kevin Brennan, Minister for the
Third Sector, said,
“Volunteering binds communities
together and builds a stronger and kinder society. Often these unsung heroes go about their work without much recognition,
that’s why I’m particularly pleased to see their efforts recognised and rewarded by the Queen’s Award for
Voluntary Service.”
More than 700 groups around the UK have now won the Queen’s
Award for Voluntary Service, over the seven years since it was created by Her Majesty to mark the occasion of her Golden Jubilee
in 2002.
For details of all this year’s Queen’s Award
for Voluntary Service winners and information on how to nominate a group that really makes a difference, visit www.queensawardvoluntary.gov.uk, where a nomination form can be downloaded.
BEAUTIFUL BATTLE PRESS RELEASE 1st JUNE 2009
Sunshine in June means summer
plants…and summer plants means that all must be planted! This is exactly what the volunteers are doing this week throughout
Battle.
Many of the gardens are already
looking fabulous…and no more so than The Almonry Garden, which is now bursting with colour.
Another garden which excels
in it’s mix of plants, texture and colour, is the private garden Karibu, in Netherfield Hill, Battle created by Wendy
Mansfield. This garden will be open for us all to visit on Sunday 14th
June. Wendy and Simon Mansfield have very kindly offered to open their garden
for the benefit of Beautiful Battle. The cost of entry is £1.50, and it will be open from 10am until 4pm.
Wendy has won the ‘secret garden’ category of Battle in Bloom for several years, and her garden
is a joy.
Preparations
for The Scarecrow Festival in July are gathering pace, with entries now in excess of fifty.
You will be able to take a guided tour of The Scarecrows, through the gardens of Battle…and to make your own
choice on which scarecrow is the best! Leaflets will be available in various
locations on route, including The Almonry, and Tourist Information centre, by the end of June.
Judging for Battle’s entry to South East in Bloom will be on Tuesday 14th July. The Schools category is to be judged later this month, and The Neighbourhood Awards…and
Parks category on Thursday 16th July. For more information on any of the above please contact Margaret on 01424 772058
Preperation for the Big Day - 8th July 2009
'Super Rainbow' will be amongst those welcoming judges to Battle on Tuesday of next week
to take a critical look at the town's entry to South East in Bloom. Three judges will be touring Battle on Tuesday
morning to consider not only if Battle is the best small town entry in the South East...but also whether it is fit for
'Champion of Champions' award , in Britain in Bloom following Battle's success in winning the Small Town category last year.
Pictured here are
the volunteers weeding the Almonry Garden in preparation together with new signeage at the open space at Kingsmead. This
recent Meadow Enhancement project is a partnership between Rother District Council and Beautiful Battle, and supported
by the High Weald Landscape Trust..
Judges will be in
Battle from 9.30 until 12.30 next Tuesday 14th July.
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New Signage at Kingsmead open space
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Volunteers weeding the Almonry Garden |
BEAUTIFUL BATTLE - STREET COLLECTION - 17/18 July 2009
After a very hectic
week, that included judging in three categories of South East in Bloom and an Inter-Regional Competition, the Beautiful Battle
volunteers held their annual “Street Collection” on 17/18 July. A magnificent total of £522 was raised for their
funds which will help fund future projects. The organiser, Diana Watson, would
like to thank all the volunteer collectors and the many people who gave so generously.
The pictures attached show one group of volunteers who collected on the Friday.
The success of the Scarecrow competition also inspired John Hill to become a scarecrow for the day.
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Beautiful Battle Volunteers |
John Hill Became a Scarecrow for the Day |
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