I was recently invited by the Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Councillor Mike Wildgust to Wooton Bassett for a memorial service, I received the invite in recognition of the work and support that I have given to V.C.’s throughout Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

Ron Booth MBE - Wooton Basset Memorial Service

Ron Booth MBE & Lord Mayor of Nottingham Mike Wildgust and his wife Carol

Following this I was also privileged enough to be invited by Nottinghamshire County Council to their ‘Veterans Week’. It was a great day and the image below shows Lt. Colonel Merryweather raising the Nottinghamshire County Council standard.

Nottinghamshire County Council Veterans Week - Lt. Colonel Merryweather

It was a wonderful show and we both thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

During the intervals, volunteers were invited onto the stage to receive awards for their efforts. I was invited to be presented with an award and a certificate for the 45 years I have been volunteering with the NRSB, I felt very humbled and also extremely proud to be receiving such an award.

Mrs J Fisher - NRSB Chairperson & Volunteers

The Lord Mayor of Nottingham Councillor Brian Grocock lead the day and also presented the wreath with myself in memory of these brave individuals.

Albert Ball Memorial Day Nottingham Castle

Receiving my MBE was a dream come true to say the least, something that the majority of people never have the fortune to experience, needless to say I soaked up EVERYTHING like a sponge!

It was nothing short of breathtaking, the cars, the food, the people the location and obviously the lady that gave me my MBE – Her Majesty The Queen.

The whole experience has been one that I never in a million years would have believed happening to myself, but here we are the pictures say it all, a day that I will truly never forget.

Ron Booth MBE

Myself and my wife had a fantastic time and it was great to meet Chairman Tom Pettengell and other  members of the honours list, this kind of event really does bring home to me how special receiving an MBE is.

Many thanks to all those involved for a lovely day.

I have written a number of books covering a wide range of subjects and the monies raised from the sale of these I donate to help the Nottinghamshire Royal Society for the Blind, something that I have been doing since 1968.

I am being awarded an MBE by the Queen for ‘Services To The Community’, and I have to say that when I found out I was being named in the New Year’s Honours List I was completely – “Over the moon”.

The letter informing me of this great honour arrived on 20th November 2010 and I was unable to tell anyone – friends nor family. I’m sure that they understand but it was very difficult to say the least!

Read the full article in the Nottingham Evening Post – Read More

Ron Booth - New Years Honours

The invite was as a result of my work and writing for the Nottingham Evening Post, and also the memorial to the twenty Victoria Cross holders of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire that I had worked on for a great deal of time eventually gaining the recognition they truly deserved.

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and the Duchess Of Cornwall were in attendance, with many other dignitaries for this very poignant day. We we’re given a splendid view of the church, sitting overlooking the proceedings in all their glory.

After the service it was a most humbling experience to meet the men, both young and old, who had won the Victoria Cross or George Cross the highest awards given in the UK for galantry.

I was honoured to meet and chat with Johnson Beharry V.C., Staff Sergeant Kim Hughes G.C. and also Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher G.C., I was also introduced to a number of other officers of the forces.

Johnson Beharry V.C. & Ron Booth

Staff Sergeant Kim Hughes G.C. & Ron Booth

Matthew Croucher G.C. & Ron Booth

General William Cubitt C.B.E. & Ron Booth

With many thanks to Mrs Diddy Grahame and all those people I met on the day at St. Martin’s in the Field.

This was an experience that I will never forget.

Forty bikers formed a guard of honour as the first poppies of this year’s Royal British Legion Appeal in Nottingham were sold at County Hall.

Read more about the day here - Bikers & Poppies

Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal & Ron Booth

People from all walks of life are invited on the recommendation of a large number of national organisations who submit lists on a pre-arranged quota. For example, the government, Lord-Lieutenants and organisations such as the Civil Service, Armed Services, Diplomatic Corps, charities and societies, all have quotas for nominations. This ensures that a representative cross-section of the community is invited and that guests are generally people who have contributed a large amount to their various organisations or society.

Our Garden Party invite was received in recognition for my work with the Victoria Cross Memorial, charity work, volunteering and local community involvement all of which I have done for many years now with pleasure and for no gain other than helping to make a difference, even if only in the smallest of ways.

We were both very proud to be invited to the Garden Party and I for one shall remember it for all my days and will continue to work with those that need my help and support.

The Queens Garden Party 2010 - Buckingham Palace

Mrs Price has enjoyed a very long teaching career spanning a staggering 36 years, with the last 14 years being at Southwold.

I myself have given talks at the school and have always been met with a very warm welcome from both staff and children alike.

Myself and my wife would like to wish Kay the very best for the future and a very happy retirement.

Mrs Kay Price & Ron Booth