u3a member named one of 500 Coronation Champions
Holme Valley u3a member Roy has been recognised by The King and The Queen Consort as part of the official Coronation celebrations for his tireless voluntary work over more than a decade.
Many within the movement will know Roy from his role within the Beacon Support Team. But, as well as that, he is a long-standing volunteer with AbilityNet – a charity that supports older and disabled people with the use of digital technology.
Roy, of Holmfirth, Yorkshire, is also a volunteer treasurer for Halifax Symphony Orchestra and an engineer at a Repair Café.
His dedication to good causes has seen him named one of 500 Coronation Champions, out of 5,000 nominations. The Awards were organised by the Royal Voluntary Service, of which The Queen Consort is President, and launched to recognise exceptional volunteers from across the country at this momentous point in history.
People across the UK were invited to nominate local volunteering heroes who go the extra mile. Nominations were made across eight award categories; supporting older people; supporting young people and children; crisis and welfare; community; sports, culture, and heritage; health and care; sustainability and the environment; and animal welfare.
Modest Roy, a retired senior IBM engineer, was nominated by AbilityNet. He says: “I got an email at 9pm confirming I had been selected as a Coronation Champion but I’ve had to keep it secret until now.
“It came as a real surprise to find out I had been nominated because I don’t consider what I do to be anything out of the ordinary.”
King Charles has made it a formal part of his Coronation to encourage people to volunteer to reflect the central role of the nation’s volunteering sector – upon which the u3a itself depends.
There are thousands of amazing u3a volunteers working hard to ensure the movement continues to be vibrant and fun. Ahead of Volunteers’ Week, 1- 7 June, we would love to hear about a member who has gone above and beyond for your u3a. Email
u3a is full of members sharing their skills and expertise with each other. Find your local u3a and join now.