The Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk, Clare, Countess of Euston was delighted to present Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue (SULSAR) with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS) on 8 September 2022.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, is the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK, the equivalent of an MBE.
Over 160 people attended the presentation at Suffolk ONE, to see SULSAR Chairman, Andy King and Vice Chairman, Paul Morris, receive the crystal and certificate. There was an added poignancy to the event as the Award was one of the last approved by Her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
Suffolk Lowland Search & Rescue, were Awarded the accolade for their work in searching for vulnerable missing adults and children in Suffolk and surrounding counties, and saving lives. In addition 31 SULSAR volunteers were presented with the special Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal, awarded by Her Late Majesty, to serving frontline members of the police, fire, emergency services, prison services and Armed Forces with five years service as part of the commemorations this year.
In presenting the Award the Lord-Lieutenant said;
“In Suffolk, we are hugely proud of SULSAR and the extraordinary work you all do assisting the Constabulary in the search for vulnerable and missing people – sometimes even crossing the border into Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire when required.”
“You operate through the darkest of days for many families, bringing happy and sad news in equal measure. Your training is second to none. The team of yours is quicker, more efficient and more effective than anywhere else in the country. Your specialist teams are quite unique.”
“I would like to emphasise how very difficult it is to win this award. It is the equivalent of an MBE to an individual. Very few are awarded every year, so you deserve the praise and congratulations of everyone in the county. You have been with us in Suffolk for almost 25 years and we are hugely grateful to you all.”
Andy King, Chairman of SULSAR said, “I am so honoured to receive this award on behalf of the team. I simply cannot put into words exactly how much this award means to the team and myself .I know we will live up to the high values that go with receiving this fantastic accolade for the service that we carry out.”
SULSAR were one of four winners of the Award from Suffolk this year. The County’s other winners were BSC Multicultural Services, Bury Rickshaw and Halesworth Volunteers.