Queens Award for Voluntary Service

The de Havilland Aircraft Museum receives The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

The volunteers at the de Havilland Aircraft Museum near St Albans have been recognised with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.

The Museum’s mission is to preserve and communicate the de Havilland Heritage to ensure that current and future generations of all ages can learn about de Havilland’s contribution to innovative British Aviation technology.

The 130 active volunteers undertake many of the museum’s activities; welcoming our many visitors,  hosting visits from schools, and clubs  and continually developing our prestigious collection and its social history.

The de Havilland Aircraft Museum is just one of 244 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this Platinum Jubilee year. Their work, along with others from across the UK, reminds us of all the ways in which fantastic volunteers are contributing to their local communities and working to make life better for those around them.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to benefit their communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate The Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse. They include volunteer groups from across the UK, including: a rural support group for farmers in Shropshire; a community magazine addressing isolation in the Western Isles; a running club engaging all ages in County Tyrone; a film academy and community hub based in South Wales, and a food bank in Greater London feeding vulnerable individuals and providing training opportunities.

Representatives of the de Havilland Aircraft Museum will receive the award crystal and certificate from Robert Voss CBE, Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire and our patron the Duke of Gloucester later this summer.

Jonathan Fulwell, General Manager said ‘I am delighted that our volunteers’ contributions have been recognised. Their commitment, skills and sheer hard work has enabled the Museum to recover strongly from the Covid pandemic, capitalise on our new display hangar and, for the first time, begin opening all year round”

Jonathan also said. “The museum has a wide variety of roles for anyone interested in joining our friendly museum. You don’t need to know anything about aircraft and you will have opportunity to make new friends, enjoy practical and informative learning opportunities and contribute to our local heritage”