07 June 2023
The spotlight falls on our volunteers' outstanding work in Volunteers Week
The CWGC Spotlight Awards shine a light on and celebrate the dedicated individuals and teams who volunteer and support our work, enhancing our visitor’s experience with their enthusiasm and knowledge.
CWGC’s Director General, Claire Horton, said: “I am delighted to share the news of our Volunteer special recognition, Spotlight Awards, in Volunteers’ Week, which is a time to both celebrate the outstanding contribution of our volunteers, and to showcase their work to inspire others who might be thinking of volunteering.
“CWGC's UK-wide network of dedicated volunteers, absolutely epitomise our values and continually support our mission of keeping the memories of the fallen alive through a wide range of roles, committing hours of their time and energy freely, with passion and boundless enthusiasm. I and CWGC staff teams everywhere, are enormously grateful for their contribution. We want our volunteers to know how valued and appreciated they are, and Volunteers Week gives us a chance to do that publicly".
Here are our latest winners
Derbyshire Man Receives Volunteering Award for Outstanding Work
A man from Derby has been praised for his outstanding volunteering work recording details and cleaning war heroes’ headstones and has received a prestigious award from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
Nick Hopkins volunteers for the CWGC, was given a Spotlight Award and received a letter of congratulation from CWGC’s Director General, Claire Horton.
Mr Hopkins is an Eyes On Hands on Volunteer, caring for 59 war graves across 10 locations around Derbyshire. He inspects, cleans, and tidies the graves and has gone above and beyond to research the stories of “his boys’”.
Mr Hopkins was inspired to volunteer for CWGC as he had long held interest in military history and his numerous visits to CWGC’s Duisans British Cemetery in France where his great uncle is buried as he fought and died in the First World War
Nick said: “Volunteering is my way of saying thank you to those casualties now in my care and to all those men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice to give us the freedoms that we all enjoy today. I was surprised and extremely honoured to receive the award. It is rewarding to know my work for CWGC is appreciated.”
Devon Fab Four receive Volunteering Award for Outstanding Work
Four volunteers from Devon who care for war heroes’ graves have received a prestigious award from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
Owen Chidgey, Steven Drake, Andy Howlett and Darren Howlett, who all volunteer for the CWGC, were each given a Spotlight Award and received a letter of congratulation from CWGC’s Director General, Claire Horton.
As Eyes On, Hands On volunteers they are responsible for monitoring and cleaning 236 graves and memorials in Torquay Cemetery. They carve time out on weekends and evenings when their day jobs allow to ensure the service men and women are remembered. Andy explained how they also research the individuals, “we think that it’s important not just to clean and tend to a headstone but to build a bond with the person, the name, the face and to learn of the story and circumstances behind each grave we tend to.”
In May, they supported War Graves Week, the annual opportunity to shine a spotlight on the graves and memorials of Commonwealth service personnel around the world by leading tours for members of the public.
Andy, Darren and Steven have personal connections to the CWGC, as relatives who fought in the First World War have no known graves and are commemorated on the Menin Gate and Pozieres Memorial.
Owen recently celebrated his 19th birthday but joined as a volunteer aged just 18 making him one of the youngest CWGC volunteers in the country. The team highlight volunteering is for all ages and hope others are inspired to learn more.
Police Officer Receives Volunteering Award for Outstanding Work
A police officer from Aberlour has been praised for his outstanding volunteering work recording details and cleaning war heroes’ headstones and has received a prestigious award from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
Vincent Stuart volunteers for the CWGC, was given a Spotlight Award and received a letter of congratulation from CWGC’s Director General, Claire Horton.
Mr Stuart is a speaker and ensures the stories of the fallen war heroes are shared with community groups and members of the public. He is also an Eyes On, Hands On volunteer, cleaning scattered CWGC headstones in Lossiemouth, Birnie, Downan, Knockando, Rothes, Cromdale, Inverallan and Grantown.
More recently, Vincent has represented the commission at the launch of the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation (CWGF) in Scotland. He shared the importance of his work with politicians, military officials, and charity donors at an exclusive event hosted at Edinburgh Castle.
Mr Stuart served in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards before joining the local police service and has inspired the next generation to volunteer and care for the graves across Moray, occasionally his six-year-old daughter Maisie gets involved and has learnt to clean a headstone with stiff brush and some elbow grease!
Vincent said: “I get so much enjoyment volunteering for CWGC and meeting members of the public to highlight the work that is done to care for the graves and the stories behind some of them. As for winning a Spotlight Award, it is nice to be recognised by the commission, but the most important thing is to remember those that served and made the ultimate sacrifice.”
London Volunteer receives award for outstanding work
A woman from London has been praised for her outstanding volunteering work recording details and cleaning war heroes’ headstones and has received a prestigious award from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
Emily Pearse who volunteers for the CWGC, was given a Spotlight Award and received a letter of congratulation from CWGC’s Director General, Claire Horton.
Mrs Pearse is an Eyes On, Hands On volunteer- she visits cemeteries across London such as Greenwich and Plumstead and takes photos to document their condition and hand cleans them if required. Her images will soon be uploaded to the CWGC website, so people all around the world can research and see a grave even if they cannot visit. In May, she supported War Graves Week, the annual opportunity to shine a spotlight on the graves and memorials of Commonwealth service personnel around the world.
Emily started volunteering as she loves history and because most of the headstones that she documents and cleans were of very young men who did not go on to have children or families of their own.
She says: “That is why it makes the work we do so special, as it's a way of remembering them and the sacrifice they made for their country even when the people who knew them have gone. It also provides the opportunity for people who have personal connections with the military or a CWGC grave to gain access to headstone photos through the CWGC website.”
Mrs Pearse continues: “It is an honour and an unexpected joy to receive an award! I do the volunteering expecting nothing in return and when you get recognised for something that you do wholeheartedly it feels amazing. The award just makes me want to continue with the volunteer work and even expand my role within CWGC volunteering programme.”
Married Scottish Volunteers Receive Award for Outstanding Work
A married couple from the Highlands have been praised for their outstanding volunteering work recording details and cleaning war heroes’ headstones and have received a prestigious award from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
Gilmour and Susan Strang from Kingussie, volunteer for the CWGC and were given a Spotlight Award and received a letter of congratulation from CWGC’s Director General, Claire Horton.
The couple who have been married for 48 years are Eyes On Hands On volunteers. They are responsible for thirteen cemeteries across the Cairngorms National Park and take photos to document grave conditions and clean them by hand if required.
More recently, they have represented the Commission at the launch of the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation (CWGF) in Scotland. They shared the importance of their work with politicians, military officials, and charity donors at anevent hosted at Edinburgh Castle. In May, they supported War Graves Week, the annual opportunity to shine a spotlight on the graves and memorials of Commonwealth service personnel around the world.
Their passion for commemoration has taken them around the world. In 2016, they embarked on an ambitious project to visit the graves of every man named on their town war memorial. Of the 60 named recorded, they have so far visited 58 of them on a quest that has led them to France, Belgium, Germany, Ireland but also closer to home in Lossiemouth.
Susan and Gilmour are particularly proud to care for the fifteen Newfoundland men, who came to Scotland with the Newfoundland Overseas Forestry Unit in WW2. Susan has supported a historian from Newfoundland in his research and wrote the foreword to his book which will be published shortly. Mr and Mrs Strang have been incredible representatives of the Commission both in Scotland and around the world.
They said: “Winning the Spotlight Award was a real surprise to both of us. As CWGC volunteers we feel encouraged, valued, and very well supported. It is a real privilege to represent the work of the commission and we love meeting others with similar interests and supporting people just starting out on their journey to find out about their relatives.”
Darlington Volunteer receives award for captivating audiences
A retired British Army Major has been praised for his outstanding volunteering work, delivering engaging presentations to community groups, schools, and cadets and has received a prestigious award from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
Frederick Greenhow who volunteers for the CWGC, was given a Spotlight Award and received a letter of congratulation from CWGC’s Director General, Claire Horton.
Major Greenhow served in the Army for 36 years and recalls feeling moved visiting CWGC cemeteries and memorials as a young soldier. Upon retirement, Fred became a Battlefield Tour Guide and now regularly takes groups around the world to learn about military history.
Fred described how rewarding his volunteering for CWGC is: “What I enjoy the most is the ability to pass on my knowledge, and how 'every day is a school day'. I also learn from other people, especially from WWII veterans. It is also very rewarding when you have a younger group, such as cadets, who are so enthusiastic and full of questions. They are the future; they will maintain and carry on the excellent work of the CWGC.”
Cycling North London Volunteer receives award for outstanding work
A man from North London has been praised for his outstanding volunteering work recording details and cleaning war heroes’ headstones and has received a prestigious award from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
John Hardman who volunteers for the CWGC, was given a Spotlight Award and received a letter of congratulation from CWGC’s Director General, Claire Horton.
John is an Eyes On, Hands On volunteer. He visits cemeteries across North London including Kensal Green St Mary’s Cemetery, Willesden New Cemetery and Willesden Jewish Cemetery. He takes photos to document their condition and hand cleans them if required. In May, he supported War Graves Week, the annual opportunity to shine a spotlight on the graves and memorials of Commonwealth service personnel around the world.
Mr Hardman was inspired to volunteer for CWGC after he embarked on an impressive cycling tour. After receiving the war medals of his great grandfather, Private Frederick William Hardman who served in the 17th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, he was inspired to research his war experience and found the War Diaries that his Battalion had written each day of the war from January 1916 to March 1919 in the National Records Archives Kew.
John said: “I was amazed to be physically holding this piece of history, reading the entries of what had happened each day, battles fought, casualties suffered, and seeing maps they had sketched of their trench positions. The log noted where the Battalion was every day, so I plotted all the places on a map and had the idea to complete a cycle tour of them.”
In the summer of 2015, John completed a solo cycle starting in Salisbury where the troops trained, down to Portsmouth and across to Le Havre, just as his great grandfather had done almost a century before. In total John cycled 1,287km across France and Belgium over 14 days, visiting over 270 places named in the diaries, and saw war graves and memorials for more than 205,000 servicemen and women killed in the First World War.
This adventurous act of remembrance led John to volunteering with CWGC back in London. He said: “I love being outdoors and the peace and calm of the cemeteries within the busy city of London. I get a real sense of satisfaction from leaving the graves in a better state than I found them and helping to create a lasting record that commemorates the sacrifice all these brave and largely very young people made to ensure that what they gave for us is never forgotten.
“Receiving the Spotlight Award and gave me a huge sense of pride because I know that what I’m doing would have made my grandad proud. With every grave that I find and clean I feel like I’m honouring him and the other members of my family who served in the World Wars.”
Scottish RAF Veterans Receive Volunteering Award for Outstanding Work
Two friends from Fife have been praised for their outstanding volunteering work recording details and cleaning war heroes’ headstones. Both have received a prestigious award from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
Malcolm Hodgson and David Mowatt volunteer for the CWGC and each received a Spotlight Award along with a letter from CWGC’s Director General, Claire Horton, congratulating them on their achievement
Mr Hodgson and Mr Mowatt are both RAF Veterans who work together as Eyes On, Hands On Volunteers. They care for graves across twenty cemeteries around Fife and take photos to document the graves’ condition and hand clean them if required. Their images will soon be uploaded to the CWGC website, so people all around the world can research and see a grave even if they cannot visit. In May, they supported War Graves Week, the annual opportunity to shine a spotlight on the graves and memorials of Commonwealth service personnel around the world.
David said: “It was great to win a Spotlight Award, it makes me feel that the work I do is important and appreciated. I enjoy volunteering because I know I am helping to keep the memories of the fallen alive and the exercise is good for my health and mental wellbeing!”
Malcolm said: “Very surprised to be nominated and then go on to win a Spotlight Award, I know there are many CWGC volunteers around the UK that do what I do so I feel very honoured to know the tasks we carry out are appreciated.”
Merseyside friends receive Volunteering Award for Naval Memorial Care
Two volunteers from Merseyside who care for Liverpool Naval Memorial and war heroes’ graves received a prestigious award from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
David Grisenthwaite and Alister Baker who volunteer for the CWGC, were given a Spotlight Award and received a letter of congratulation from CWGC’s Director General, Claire Horton.
David and Alister monitor and clean the Liverpool Naval Memorial located on the famous city waterfront. They ensure it is kept free of litter and that graffiti is dealt with promptly. The Liverpool Naval Memorial commemorates 1,400 auxiliary naval officers and men, who died on active service aboard more than 120 ships, and who have no grave but the sea.
In May, they supported War Graves Week, the annual opportunity to shine a spotlight on the graves and memorials of Commonwealth service personnel around the world by leading tours for members of the public. They both also care for CWGC graves in their local area, monitoring and cleaning them when required.
Alister’s younger daughter served in the RAF as a medic in Iraq and then cared for injured service personnel at Headley Court, the Defence Medical Rehabilitation centre. She returned home safe, but Alister notes how this experience resonated with his family and reminded them of the sacrifices made by those who are named on the memorial he now cares for. He said: “It means a lot to be recognised with a Spotlight Award and I look forward to giving more talks soon.”
David said: “I care for 143 graves as well as the Naval Memorial and am grateful and humbled by the award. I really enjoy feeling like I am doing a worthwhile service in helping to remember those to whom we owe a great debt.”
Eco Conscious Tipton Volunteer Receives Award for Outstanding Work
A man from Tipton has been praised for his outstanding volunteering work recording details and cleaning war heroes’ headstones and has received a prestigious award from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
Charlie Smith volunteers for the CWGC and was given a Spotlight Award and received a letter of congratulation from CWGC’s Director General, Claire Horton.
Mr Smith is an Eyes On, Hands On volunteer, so he visits seven cemeteries across the West Midlands and takes photos to document the graves condition and hand cleans them if required. His images will soon be uploaded to the CWGC website, so people all around the world can research and see a grave even if they cannot visit. In May, he supported War Graves Week, the annual opportunity to shine a spotlight on the graves and memorials of Commonwealth service personnel around the world.
Charlie is committed to CWGC’s sustainability values and is so eco minded he travels to his locations with his trusty bucket, scrubbing brush and clippers by public transport, fully utilizing his bus pass.
Mr Smith said: “Winning the Spotlight Award was very special to me, as in my mind it meant that what I am doing is appreciated, and that I am making a difference. The best thing about volunteering is when all the jobs are done, you can walk around the site and just look at these stones that look well-kept and clean and think that that's how the parents of these hero's would have wanted them to look.”
For more information on volunteering opportunities with the CWGC please use the link below: