LONG-standing Westbury Lions Club member David Firth has been presented with his MBE by Princess Anne at Windsor Castle.
David was awarded the MBE for ‘Services to Westbury Lions’ in the King’s Birthday Honours List in June after a remarkable 42 years of dedication to the Lions Club and his tireless efforts within the community. “It was an absolutely fantastic day all round,” said David after the ceremony on Wednesday 25th September. “It was a real honour to collect my award from The Princess Royal and wonderful to be able to share the day with my wife, Jean, and two daughters, Jackie and Carole.
“Before the ceremony, we had a tour of Windsor Castle and were taken through nearly every room, apart from the private apartments, which was a real privilege. The investiture ceremony then took place from 11am and I collected the honour at 12.15pm.
“The Princess Royal pinned the medal onto me and said to wear it with pride. She asked me about the Westbury Lions and what we do as a club. I was amazed at how knowledgeable she was and struck by how genuinely interested she was in our work.”
David praised the warm and welcoming atmosphere he experienced throughout the day. “The staff were superb, and the last person I saw before going in to meet the Princess said, ‘This is your moment, just enjoy it.’ It was a wonderful day.”
David’s service to the Westbury Lions spans over four decades, during which he has held nearly every leadership role within the club, including treasurer for almost 30 years. His influence has extended beyond the local level, serving at Zone, District, Regional and National levels, notably as governor for the district and council chair of the British Isles and Ireland.
A passionate advocate for the ‘Lions Sight Savers Trust’, David has also been a trustee and secretary of the organisation since 2002, helping establish the Lions Eye Bank at Moorfields Eye Hospital, and helping to raise over £3million in support of sight-saving efforts during that time. He was also the driving force behind Lions Clubs accepting female members and the instigator behind Westbury Leos Club for junior members, one of only two such clubs that exist in the south of the UK.
Despite the personal recognition, David emphasised that his MBE award represents the collective efforts of the Westbury Lions. “This award is for everyone in the club,” he said. “Singularly, you can only do so much, but together you can do so much more, and that’s what Lions is all about. You don’t go into Lions for things like this; you go in to help others in the best way you can.
“This award is a massive feather in the cap for Westbury Lions. It will help put us on the map, which is what it’s all about.”
In addition to community members, a few notable figures from the world of entertainment and public service were also recognised at the ceremony at Windsor Castle, including campaigner Alan Bates, who received a knighthood for exposing the Post Office scandal.
