A volunteer who has been serving the community for over half a century was presented with a surprise award last week.
Petronella Keeling was presented with the Community Hero award from the Pride of South Holland Awards.
She was unable to attend the ceremony itself in January, so organiser Jan Whitbourn and Millie Gent, from award sponsor David Wood Baking Ltd, surprised her with her certificate and trophy last week.
Petronella has been involved with a host of groups including the Spalding Gentlemen’s Society for which she is currently the chairman of trustees.
She’s also a member of the Spalding Town Husbands which oversees almshouses in the town and was at a group meeting when she was presented with the award.
Petronella received the MBE in 2014 for her work with the Action Medical Research charity which funds research into disease and disabilities in babies and children.
At the time she was also a Deputy Lieutenant for Lincolnshire, a position which represents the royal family locally.
She had also previously been a governor of Spalding High School and a trustee of The Lincolnshire Foundation.
Petronella is the daughter of Len Van Geest, who, with his brother John, set up what became the Geest empire synonymous with South Holland.
The person who nominated Petronella for her Pride award described her as ‘the driving force’ behind the Spalding Gentlemen’s Society.
“She is someone who has worked tirelessly to further the goals and ambitions of the Spalding and South Holland residents through many different causes for over 50 years, they said. “Petronella is someone who works behind the scenes and never looks for praise, she is just content to see everything come together and to raise money for so many charities that she has been involved in over the years.
“Her main love is looking after the old people and getting them in to a Town Husband’s property for them to be happy and looked after.”
“She is an inspiration to everyone. I am not sure how one person can participate in so much good in one community but we have been thankful for all she does and she deserves to be recognised for her contribution to South Holland.”
Petronella said: “I’m honoured to have been chosen. I don’t really feel I deserve it, there are so many other people who work tirelessly for charities, societies and South Holland.
“Thank you to all involved with the Pride Awards, Millie for presenting the prize and David Wood Bakery for sponsoring the award.”
