The judges comment was,

"This Community Partnership scheme has provided Billingshurst with an important asset"


The provision of the fishing lake has become a haven for wildlife and within a few years.
it is hoped that the tree and shrub planting scheme will further enhance the area. Whilst the site was being inspected a wide range of species was found.

 

 

 

THE LORD LORD-LIEUTENANT OF WEST SUSSEX,
MRS SUSAN PYPER, PRESENTS TO THE BILLINGSHURST COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP HM THE QUEEN’S AWARD FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE, AN MBE FOR VOLUNTEER GROUPS.

Friday 30 September was chosen as the day for this prestigious award to be presented by HM The Queen’s Representative, Mrs Susan Pyper. After the citation had been read to the assembly by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant Mrs Brenda Large, Mrs Pyper presented the award stressing that she was standing in for The Queen and that special regard should be taken of this and that the Partnership should be proud to be one of the first Community Partnerships to receive the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. Mrs Pyper then handed a carved crystal obelisk to Mr Owen Davies Chairman of the Billingshurst Community Partnership.

Other distinguished guests included the High Sheriff Mr David Tupper, Deputy Lieutenants Mrs B Large and Mr D Ebdon, the Chairman of WSCC Mr Mike Coleman, Francis Maude MP, Chairman of Horsham District Council Cllr Claire Vickers and CEO Mr Tom Crowley.

Owen Davies, Chairman of The Billingshurst Community Partnership, in accepting the Award on their behalf, briefly mentioned the historical background from the creation of the Partnership during Patrick Perks Chairmanship of the Billingshurst Parish Council. The founding members included parish councillors, district and county councillors and members of local organisations. He emphasised that he could not name all those who had taken part to date over the last 10 years or so but he paid tribute to all the volunteers, past and present, who were responsible for, among many other projects, The Jubilee Fields Fishing Lake and Sports Complex, The Family and Children’s Centre and the Youth Projects and also the Luncheon Club for the Elderly. Other projects in the pipeline include the EYE (Education & Youth Enterprise) project and the economic welfare of Billingshurst.

Some 80 guests including current and past founding members, management members and directors as well as volunteers from the partnership’s many projects attended the presentation. Over the years of the existence of the Partnership it has raised over £500,000 in grants and has given some 50,000 hours of voluntary service to the community.