On Tuesday morning April 21st., on what would have been the late Queen Elizabeth II’s 100th birthday, sixteen Greater Manchester organisations which were awarded the 2025 King’s Award on King Charles’s birthday in November were invited to attend a prestigious regional ceremony in order to collect a 3D laser-engraved glass King’s Award and signed certificate by the King.

The Greater Manchester regional ceremony was hosted in person by The Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Mrs Diane Hawkins, who has been a frequent guest at our Bridge Church, Parish Church and Victoria Hall concerts over the last three years. In addition, various Deputy Lieutenants and the various Mayors from the towns of the award winning organisations also attended, so the Mayors of Bolton, Stockport, Rochdale, Oldham, Wigan, Tameside, Greater Manchester, Manchester and others were all very kindly in attendance.

Each of the 16 awarded organisations had a prepared 3.000 word citation written by a Deputy Lieutenant read out to the ceremony, in our case by Saeed Atcha MBE and then after the speech, official photographs were taken.  

Each of the sixteen Greater Manchester awarded organisations had a prepared 3.000 word citation written about them, and read out, by a Deputy Lieutenant, in our case by Bolton-based DL Saeed Atcha MBE, who visited our bandroom in person in March of 2025 to meet with committee members and Musical Director and be shown around our rehearsal spaces. Each of the awarded organisations had official photographs taken too, which will be forwarded in the near future.  

The Greater Manchester King’s Award ceremony was attended by Debs Lyons (Chair), David Warburton (Community Music Chair) Mrs Maureen Warburton, Miss Kaye Masters and our MD Chris Wormald, founder of both Saturday Band and Tuesday Choir.