Friends of Hadlow Road Station (FHRS) were formally presented with The King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) crystal and certificate on Friday, 29 May 2026 during a special ceremony at Hadlow Road Station in Willaston, Wirral.
The presentation was made by the Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire, Lady Alexis Redmond, in recognition of the group’s outstanding contribution to preserving and enhancing the historic station. Often described as the equivalent of an MBE for volunteer groups, it is the highest honour that can be awarded to a local voluntary organisation in the UK.
Volunteers past and present gathered for the occasion, celebrating the dedication and hard work that has helped secure the station’s future for generations to come.
As Chris Hampshire, the former chair of FHRS is also former chair of the FFET board, we had the honour of being asked to send two of our Year 7 pupils to the event. Both pupils have previously supported the Friends of Hadlow Road Station with their annual Santa’s Grotto. They were able to witness this wonderful ceremony and present the Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire with a bunch of flowers on behalf of FHRS.
We are very proud of them and know that the opportunity to play a part in such a prestigious ceremony will be something that will always remain with them.
Well done to all.
