A Girlguiding champion from Hounslow who for more than three decades has dedicated her every spare minute to Brownies and Guides has received a royal award.
Hounslow Brownies and Guides leader Patricia (Pat) Spencer was buzzing with joy as she was presented the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS) MBE by Hounslow’s deputy lieutenant Maria Pedro, at Hounslow Methodist Church.
The recognition for volunteer groups received by only four people in London, was related to her work with 1st Hounslow and 6th Hounslow Brownies and 1st Hounslow Guides in the Girlguiding Middlesex South West County group.
Mrs Spencer who was nominated for the award by a parent, Rena Wallace, said: “I feel overwhelmed by everything but so grateful to Rena who nominated me and my group.
“If it wasn’t for my group and certainly my colleagues, who help me every week perhaps we wouldn’t have got this award. It’s still a fantastic, fantastic achievement and I can’t thank everybody enough. It’s a real team effort, it has to be.”
Mrs Spencer started her Guiding life as a Brownie and a Guide at 1st Pinner in the 1950s and stayed on with the organisation after she turned 18 helping various other groups including the 1st Belmont Guides before taking a 10-year break to raise two daughters in 1976.
Then in 1986 she was tasked with reviving the 1st Hounslow Guides and the group was reborn. She also rescued troubled 1st Hounslow Brownies and 6th Hounslow Brownies in 2008 with the help of her husband Derek and daughters, wand the two were joined permanently by 2012.
Ms Perdro added: “I’m delighted that it has been officially announced that the 1st/6th Hounslow Brownies and 1st Hounslow Guides have been awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS).
"This is the equivalent of the MBE for voluntary groups, it’s the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work done in their own communities."
The awards ceremony was also attended by Mayor of Hounslow councillor Ajmer Grewal; Pip McKerrow, Chief Commissioner of Girlguiding London and South East; Volunteer Police Cadets and YOU London (Youth Organisations in Uniform) on June 29.
Tea, cakes and campfire songs concluded the awards ceremony and celebration of voluntary work in the borough.
