Retired Accountant Peter Rolington Honoured at Buckingham Palace for Volunteering
Peter Rolington, a retired accountant, rubbed shoulders with royals at a Buckingham Palace garden party on 3 May 2023. His reward? Two decades of selfless volunteering with Crimestoppers and Neighbourhood Watch.
From Nominee to Coronation Champion
Peter’s nomination came after the Royal Voluntary Service called on the nation to shine a light on their community heroes.
He’s not just any volunteer. Peter created Kent’s e-Watch newsletter, a twice-weekly digital update reaching nearly two thirds of the county’s population with vital police news and appeals.
Even more impressive, he launched Country Eye — a clever app made alongside Kent Police. It lets locals swiftly report rural crimes, making law enforcement smarter and faster.
Sharing History and Helping the Community
A history buff, Peter leads battlefield tours for police cadets aged 13-18, passing on gripping tales from the two World Wars.
“It is an honour to be nominated as a Coronation Champion. I don’t do any of it for recognition but because I feel that giving back to the community is the right thing to do,” Peter said.
“Not having worked in policing prior to this, I am thrilled to be supporting officers and potentially making a difference to keeping people safe.”
Coronation Champions: Volunteers Who Make a Difference
Supported by Her Majesty The Queen Consort, the Coronation Champions Awards celebrate the UK’s volunteer legends. From thousands of nominees, just 500 were handpicked for their extraordinary dedication.
Catherine Johnstone CBE, Chief Executive of Royal Voluntary Service, said:
“We were completely blown away by the response to the Community Champions Awards and the huge volume of amazing nominees put forward. Our judges had a tough job selecting just 500 Champions from an array of thousands of inspirational individuals, who all deserve to be recognised and commended.”
“Each of our Coronation Champions displayed a commitment and contribution that far exceeds any expectation and we’re overjoyed to honour and thank them during this exciting point in history.”
