Sylvia Gallimore, who lives in San Miguel De Salinas, Alicante, was awarded a BEM (British Empire Medal) for “services to charity and the community”, as part of the 2023 King´s Birthday Honours list.
The award is particularly significant as it comes just three years after the same honour was bestowed on her son Daniel, by HM Queen Elizabeth II, who lost his sight when he went to the aid of a young man under attack at cash point in Bristol.
Although Sylvia’s recognition comes after many years working in Spain with with the charity Help at Home, the citation traces her voluntary work back prior to her arrival in San Miguel, going back over 50 years to her first involvement in voluntary work with a play group in St. Barts Church Hall, Bristol.
Since those early days she has worked unselfishly with the Woman’s Royal Voluntary Service at Horfield Prison in Bristol, an animal rescue and a rehoming project in the same city.
In 1996, Sylvia moved to focus on the visually impaired community in Bristol, raising funds for the Royal National Institute of Blind People and Avon Sports and Leisure, during which time she organised theatrical ‘audio described’ performances, as well as ‘touch tours’ in the Bristol museum and at local art galleries.
While she subsequently moved with her family to Spain Sylvia still helps the charity from afar, also spending time writing books to raise money for a charity run by her son, ‘Have Stick Will Travel,’ of which she is a trustee.
Indeed, together with Daniel, Sylvia played a crucial role in establishing the ‘Have Stick Will Travel’ charity, organising numerous fundraising initiatives to obtain technology for visually impaired people, helping them be more independent in their homes. She also supports several sports teams made up of visually impaired people.
More recently, since she has been living in San Miguel de Salinas, Sylvia works with the charity Help at Home, which helps people with mobility or health problems attend medical appointments or run errands. She has also written a book called ‘Sleeping Rough’ to raise funds for the charity ‘Shelter’, which supports homeless people.
While she could have waited for an invitation to collect her award in UK, Sylvia chose to receive her BEM last week, from the British Ambassador, Hugh Elliott, at a ceremony that was held at his private residence in Madrid which she attended, along with her husband and a group of relatives and friends, many of whom work with her at ‘Help at Home’.
Sylvia said of the occasion, “It was a wonderful few days for me. It was really lovely; the Ambassador and his wife were charming, and we all had a very pleasant time. They opened up their home to us, provided delicious tapas and plenty of wine. Everyone was absolutely delightful to us all.”
“There are kind people everywhere and I am privileged to know a great many of them. But no charity can run without volunteers, even an hour a week can help. There are an unbelievable number of people out there who give up their time freely. They think they are just a cog in the wheel, but without them, nothing could be achieved. No one can do anything on their own, so thankyou to everyone who has been so supportive to me over very many years.”
Images courtesy of ‘Brits in Spain’.
https://theleader.info/2023/06/17/sylvia-gallimore-receives-a-british-empire-medal/
https://theleader.info/2020/12/30/bem-in-honours-list-for-villamartin-resident-daniel-gallimore/
