Peter receives his BEM

A LONG-RUNNING member of the Rotary Club of Furness has been presented with a British Empire Medal.

Peter Garwood has been recognised for his work in the community and his role in organising the COVID vaccination programme at the Alfred Health Centre in Barrow.

He first found out about his award while lying in a hospital bed. He was at Furness General Hospital for knee surgery when he received a phone call to check the letter announcing his BEM had arrived.

Peter was invited to a presentation evening at Muncaster Castle to accept his award from the Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria Alexander Scott.

Joined by seven other recipients, Peter was first ushered into the his-toric building’s Great Hall where guests were greeted with a drink.

They proceeded into the Drawing Room where the Aide to the Lord Lieutenant explained the course of the evening before guests were treated to a speech from castle owner Peter Frost-Pennington, who told the audience a little about Muncaster and its spooky history.

The acts and achievements of each eager recipient were read out before they were each presented with their medal.

Peter’s greatest service was during the pandemic when he helped organise a grand total of 181 clinics out of 193 and committed over 1,900 hours to the project, which adds up to more than two months of his time.

Over the course of this period, Peter sent out hundreds of emails and put together 432 rotas for the people who volunteered.

On the busiest day at the vaccination clinic, Peter and his team of volunteers helped more than 2,000 people get their shots, working from 8am until after 6pm.

Peter helped members of the community, volunteers and rotarians from all three clubs in the town to come together for the common good.
He has also been involved in many events in the town of Barrow including Barrow Carnival, The Festival of the Sea, the Tour de Furness, Wrap-up Cumbria and St Mary’s Hospice Walk to Remember.

Peter said: “Muncaster is beautiful, it was a nice evening, the sun was shining, and we had a pleasant drive up to the castle.”

Each recipient was able to bring four guests, Peter was accompanied by those who mean a lot to him - his mother, sister, great-niece and her partner.

He has previously been awarded “Rotarian of the Year”, accepted the “Love Barrow” award for the Group Project of the Year on behalf of the team, and was also presented with the “BBC Northwest Tonight Christmas Star” award.

Peter said he worked with a ‘wonderful bunch’ of people and would do it all over again.

“I always said I was just doing what anyone would, I didn’t do anything special, but it’s very nice to be recognised publicly. I only did what needed doing, I was never looking for glory,” he said.

Article courtesy of the Evening Mail