The Chadwell St Mary Community Forum received their ‘Queen’s Award’ honour from the Lord Lieutenant of Essex and the Thurrock Mayor recently.

Forum Chair Peter Saunders and Carol Saunders stepped up to accept the Queen's Award for Voluntary Services from Lord Lieutenant Baron Petre of Essex, and Thurrock Mayor Cathy Kent.

Around eighty residents enjoyed the presentation and buffet evening at the Emmanuelle Church on Sleeper’s Farm Road.

The award – which is equivalent to a single OBE - was created by Her Majesty to recognise “outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups of volunteers.”

Lord Petre, Lord Lieutenant for the County of Essex said: “Their work has allowed a ‘village atmosphere’ to be retained in a growing urban environment. The commitment and the passion of the Forum has made Chadwell St Mary a vibrant and safer community and a more pleasant place in which to live.”

The Forum will also be running a Family Fun-day and Bar-b-que in the garden of the Chadwell St Mary Centre, Chadwell Library on Saturday August 27 from 11am to 4pm, with arts and crafts, face-painting and nail art, and stalls available for crafters to display and sell their products at £5 per table.

For further information contact Direne Outen at volunteers@chadwellstmarycentre.org.uk or phone 07926 361002.