Chingford resident and former CBHA chair Peter Westley is to be given a prestigious award for his years of voluntary work with charities including the CBHA.
He is to receive the Badge of the Order of Mercy from the League of Mercy Foundation at a ceremony at Mansion House on June 1. The cross will be presented by the foundation’s president Lord Lingfield.
Major Peter Westley’s award is one of only 50 given each year to recognise and honour the work of volunteers.
He said: “It was a joint nomination from my colonel because of the outreach work I have done with young people in the army cadets and from CBHA for the voluntary work I have done with them and other charities. And I would like to thank all the officers at CBHA (and previously the HAT) for all their advice and support over the years. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be receiving this honour.”
This year marks Peter’s 37th year in uniformed service to his country in the Territorial Army and to the community in the Army Cadet Force.
Of his role with the army cadets, he said: “I work with various groups including youth offending teams who look at young people at risk of becoming involved with crime or other problems. We take 100 on a camp for a week. They are teamed up with mentors of their own age.
“From the initial 100, 40 or 50 young people will go on to a army cadet training camp. A lot of youths demand respect but when they are in the middle of the countryside and it is about to pour with rain, they learn to respect things that are outside of their control, such as the weather and the knowledge of their mentors and instructors.”
He said the camps proved to be a great experience for them and gave them a different perspective on life.
Peter added: “I would like to thank so many people for their guidance and support over the years. A few of them that I can mention are John Chumrow, Mike Wilson and Steve Moore (HAT) Gary De Ferry, Paul Brown-Wood and all those involved with CBHA, Colonel Mike Neville, Major Tex Calton of the Army Cadets and my family for their patience and understanding during the times I wasn't there. This award is for them.”
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