Milton Keynes volunteer group wins prestigious award from the Queen

It was announced on June 2 that the volunteers at the Cowper and Newton Museum in OIney won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The award, which is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK, was presented to the group by Vice Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire Alexander Boswell at an online ceremony this week.

Paul Collins, chairman of the museum’s trustees, said: "Coming just five weeks after the 120th anniversary of the founding of the museum in 1900, I am delighted that the hard work and commitment shown by our volunteers - and so appreciated by our visitors both local, national, and international - has been recognised by this prestigious award.”

The group supports all aspects of the running of the museum including front of house, conservation, catering, maintenance, gardening, events planning, fundraising, administration, and guiding.

The volunteers also promote the museum in the wider community through delivering talks and lectures and by giving costumed displays of 18th century dance.

The museum tells the stories of William Cowper, a nationally renowned 18th century poet, and his friend John Newton, the local curate-in-charge and former slave ship captain, who together wrote a total of 348 hymns known collectively as The Olney Hymns, the most famous of which “Amazing Grace” was written by John Newton in Olney in 1772.

Both men also played a significant role in the campaign to abolish the slave trade.

The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities and was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Recipients are announced each year on June 2, the anniversary of the Queen’s coronation.

The winner's of the award get a certificate signed by the Queen and a domed glass crystal. Representatives from the group may also be invited to attend a royal garden party.