The first Matthew Gallagher Award
A host of special guests joined the IFD College team to mark the 25th anniversary of the college, celebrate its outstanding training and present the first Matthew Gallagher Award.
Among the special guests at the afternoon tea, held at the Manor of Groves Hotel on June 30, were Matthew Gallagher’s parents, Pat and Sandy. They had personally selected the winner and the runner-up for the inaugural Matthew Gallagher Award, which was sponsored by SAIFInsure and specially sculpted for the college. Lewis Tout, of Julie Sullivan Funeral Directors, scooped the prize and also received a generous cash prize from the Gallagher family and a copy of the BIFD manual of funeral directing. Runner-up James Chorley, of Crescent Funeral Services Ltd, also received a copy of the manual and a cash prize.
Pat Gallagher said that he and Sandy were delighted to be part of the day and to present the award given in Matthew’s name, that Matthew had a passion for education and would be proud of the direction that the college was taking, and that today’s winners were the future of our profession.
The celebrations continued with College Chair Chris Parker thanking the trainers and assessors, past and present, for their contributions, and a celebration cake was cut by Director of Education David Peasgood who has been part of the college team for the whole 25 years.
The afternoon ended with a presentation of flowers to Sandy from the college team.
Tags: award, BIFD, Chris Parker, education, IFD College, Julie Sullivan Funeral Directors, Lewis Tout, Matthew Gallagher, SAIF