Dedicated Volunteer Honoured After 61 Years Service

A DEVOTED volunteer has been honoured with an award for Outstanding Service to the Community at the Pride of Herts, Beds and Bucks Awards.

Madeleine Pearce, aged 73 from Rickmansworth, who has given over 61 years dedicated service to St John Ambulance in Hertfordshire, is celebrating this week having been honoured with this prestigious accolade at the recent awards ceremony.

Madeleine joined the St John Ambulance Rickmansworth and Chorleywood Division in 1947. Since then, she has helped create the youth section of this Division, devoting her time and skills to the charity and the local community.

The Pride of Herts, Beds and Bucks Awards honour those people who go that extra mile for their family, friends and the wider community, and this is not the first time Madeleine’s outstanding work and dedication has been recognised.

In 2007, Madeleine received the Kay Mendelssohn Memorial Cup for her Outstanding Service to the Community and has also been recognised by St John Ambulance, having been made a Serving Sister of the Order of St John in 1969, and a Serving Officer in 1983.

The huge honour of becoming a member of the Order of St John is granted to those who have shown exceptional service to the organisation.

James McLean, an operational member of St John Ambulance Rickmansworth and Chorleywood Division, said, ‘Madeleine Pearce has provided time, knowledge and devotion to both the Order of St John Ambulance and to the local community.

‘She shows no sign of slowing down in her voluntary work, and we are sure that the award of Outstanding Service to the Community of Herts, Beds and Bucks will not be the last award of recognition she receives.

‘Madeleine has been a shoulder to cry on and a confidential ear, with a humorous comment always given at just the right time.’

To find out more about St John Ambulance Hertfordshire and the Rickmansworth and Chorleywood Division, please contact 01923 446556 or visit www.sja.org.uk