The Shropshire Union Canal Society is proud and excited to announce that, to coincide with the King’s birthday today, the Society has been awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service. This is the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE. It is awarded annually to groups across the UK and recognises outstanding work in their own communities.
The award recognises the Society’s 60 years of making a difference. It is one of 250 such awards in 2026, two of which are in Shropshire, where the Society mostly operates today. But our award also celebrates 40 years of work in Wales in which the King (as Prince of Wales) took a keen interest and gave valuable support.
This crowning accolade in our 60th anniversary year acknowledges the efforts of our members, volunteers and trustees over that time. The Society today is widely acknowledged for its skill, professionalism and organisation and was recently described as “a leading light in the canal restoration movement”.
The Society thanks the King for this award, and also the Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire and her colleagues for their support in putting forward our case.
This is the icing on the cake in our 60th anniversary year!