The Brickworks Museum Volunteers were delighted to have been officially presented with The Kings Award for Voluntary Service at a ceremony held at the museum

    Volunteers, trustees and guests attended the event on Thursday 10th April 2025 when

HM Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, Mr Nigel Atkinson, presented the Award on behalf of

HM The King to Pam Formby, one of our long-standing volunteers. The award included a commemorative certificate signed by HM The King, and a beautiful, engraved glass trophy.

 

The Lord-Lieutenant gave the history of the award and stressed that, unlike some other awards, it is an award for life. The museum can be justly proud as the KAVS is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE. We will all be wearing our KAVS badges with pride.

 

The event was a perfect way to celebrate the huge amount of work the volunteers devote to the museum.

The ceremony included refreshments and a chance for the Lord-Lieutenant to meet some of our volunteers.

Those present included:

Mrs Annabelle Boyes DL

The Mayor of Fareham, Pal Hayre

Cllr Fred Birkett

Cllr Joanne Burton

Cllr David Foot

And those who had written such wonderful letters of support for our nomination.

 

The museum is based in Bursledon Brickworks, the only Victorian brickmaking factory left in the country. It is host to a thriving volunteer community who provide a wide range of skills from welcoming our visitors, giving talks, helping with the collections and keeping the old steam-driven machinery running.

 

Notes to editors

  1. Lord-Lieutenants represent the Monarch in each of the UK’s ceremonial counties.
  2. This year there are 281 recipients of The King’s Award Voluntary Service from across the UK and Channel Islands.
  3. More information on the recipients and the Award can be found at https://kavs.dcms.gov.uk/
  4. Full details on how to nominate are available at https://kavs.dcms.gov.uk/
  5. Nominations for the 2025 award opened on the 1st September 2024.