SAIF Golden Charter

People’s honour at the House of Lords

The exceptional fundraising workby Gary Neill, Managing Director of Daniel Robinson & Sons, has been recognised at the Palace of Westminster.

Gary, from Essex, was awarded with the prestigious British Citizen Award (BCA) in recognition of his extraordinary endeavours.The BCA, in partnership with One Stop, recognises exceptional individuals who positively impact their communities throughout the country. Dubbed ‘The People’s Honours’ – as anyone with an OBE, CBE or KBE is ineligible to receive a BCA – this programme recognises true community heroes for their divergent endeavours and positive impact on society.

Gary was one of 29 individuals to be recognised in January and was honoured with the BCA for Services to Volunteering and Charitable Giving. Gary received the coveted BCA Medal of Honour and invited to use the post-nominals BCA as a legacy of his achievements.

Through charity golf days and fundraising black-tie balls, Gary has raised more than £1 million for St Clare Hospice, Harlow; a hospice that he has supported since its inception and of which he is a Patron. He has also raised money for Farleigh Hospice and Isabel Hospice.

Gary has supported local clubs in the community, including bowls and football, and over the years, through many charity golf days, has raised more than £200,000 for a variety of local projects. More recently, funds from the Daniel Robinson & Sons Golf Days have been used to help six local children with cerebral palsy. These events alone have raised more than £550,000. The money is used to pay for the children’s vital specialist physiotherapy, unavailable through the NHS, which significantly improves their mobility as they grow, and which will lead on to greater independence for them all in the future.

Gary has been a funeral director for 46 years and looked after thousands of bereaved families. He joined family-owned funeral directors Daniel Robinson & Sons 36 years ago. He is committed to providing a caring and professional service to the community he serves and has given his time over the years to raise money for very many good causes.

The British Citizen Award is widely viewed as the nation’s way of recognising extraordinary, everyday people for exceptional endeavor and is truly representative of today’s multicultural Britain. The medal presentation is held twice annually in January and July. To nominate an outstanding individual from your community to be considered for The People’s Honours, click here.

Several examples of Daniel Robinson & Sons’ charity work have been featured in previous issues of SAIFInsight and can be viewed online on this site.