The Windrush Nurses &
Beyond Foundation
Queen Medal Awards Celebration at the Dorchester Hotel
12 honourees received the prestigious Queen Medal Award at the Dorchester Hotel in central London.
These medals were bestowed onto the Windrush Nurses & Beyond Foundation by HM The Queen (facilitated by the West India Committee) to recognise those who had contributed to the community during the rein of HM The Queen – as part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
Our Patron, Baroness Howells commented: “It is with great pride we continue to celebrate these unique achievers and inspirational trailblazers who will leave a legacy for years to come.” The guests then celebrated by toasting HM The Queen and singing happy birthday to Nelson Mandela.
LtoR: Bob Foster (Founder) Sylvia Mclean, Verna Springer, Nora Parker, Avis Williams-McKoy
Miss Henrietta Millicent Campbell, Suresh Rambaran, Dr Neslyn Watson-Druée, CBE, Lucretia Riley
Dr Nola Ishmael, OBE, Alice Chinewaru, Jamie Clarke - Sandi Phillips Co-founder
Queen Medal Award Special Commendation for Shirla Philogene
We were delighted to award one of our key lead members, Shirla Philogene, who was instrumental in mentoring Dr Nola Ishmeal, OBE.
Mrs Philogene, OBE has now retired, has had a distinguished career in nursing, culminating with her being awarded an OBE in 2000 for services to nursing leadership and development. Her autobiography, Between Two Worlds - A Narrative, was published in 2008. She is currently a trustee of the 1930 Fund for Nurses, a charity that supports nurses who have fallen on hard times.
In the early 1980s, she joined the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) to manage community activities in places such as Gibraltar and Hong Kong. During her time with the SSAFA, she met the Queen Mother and Prince Michael of Kent. Before retiring in the mid-1990s, she helped develop policy for the Department of Health, and in 1998, Mrs Philogene was included in a list of 50 women who have made a significant contribution to the work of the NHS.
L to R: Sam King, MBE (orginal SS Empire Windrush passenger 1948), Baroness Howells of St Davids, OBE, Shirla Philogene, OBE
