Jo from King's Lynn receives British Legion award

Jo Taylor from King's Lynn got a surprise at a British Legion meeting as she received an award in appreciation of her hard work.

Jo, who works as the Activities Co-ordinator at our home in King’s Lynn was accompanying one of the residents from the home to an Award’s ceremony when she was surprised to be presented with an award for her excellent work and support of the British Legion and the Poppy Appeal.

Jo has been working very closely with the British Legion at the care home on Kettlewell Lane in King’s Lynn. She takes up the story:

“We currently have four war veterans living with us at the home and a few more over the years. Most of them have been members of the British Legion.

“I’ve been helping our veterans to continue to be involved with the British Legion’s meetings, special ceremonies at churches and memorials, funerals of fallen friends and also fund raising and meetings involving other members from across the country.

“We also invite them to our Christmas parties and other events that we hold throughout the year. We even had a special Veteran’s 100th birthday where over 50 Members from all over the country came together to celebrate.

“I also help the British Legion with their annual Poppy appeal in the care home and take our Veterans to local supermarkets to help on the stalls selling poppies too. They always really enjoy doing this, especially when they get the chance to talk to people about their medal that they have been awarded.

“So, when l was invited to The Town Hall on Friday 7th July by the British Legion and King’s Lynn’s Mayor for an Award Ceremony for the Legion, I just thought ‘Great, another event for me to enjoy with one of our Veterans’.

“Imagine my shock when my name was called and that of King’s Lynn Residential Home and l was presented an Award by The Mayor and General Jonathan Page from the Legion in appreciation of my excellent work and support of the British Legion and the Poppy Appeal. It was a great honour and such a surprise!”

Jo was accompanied at the event by John Moran, 87, who has lived at the home since June 2021. As well as the presentation of the Awards, attendees at the event heard from King’s Lynn and District Royal British Legion branch chairman Robbie Hipkin, who was given the honour of holding the Standard at the Queens Funeral and the King’s Coronation.