Captain Tracey Palmer, who leads The Salvation Army's church in Worksop in Nottinghamshire, has been awarded the MBE in the New Year's Honours List for services to flood relief in the Worksop area.

|PIC1|Captain Palmer, who was one of hundreds of Salvation Army leaders, members, friends and volunteers across the country who came to the aid of flood victims during the summer floods, spent days assisting local residents whose homes had been inundated with flood waters.

She led a team of volunteers at The Salvation Army centre in Worksop, which became a safe haven despite itself being in constant danger of flooding.

Captain Palmer and her team cared for local children while their parents concentrated their efforts on the fight to protect their homes.

The Salvation Army worship hall was at one point filled with children, pets, and adults taking a rest. Salvation Army volunteers also ensured a constant supply of hot drinks and distributed soup to homes in the area into the early hours of the morning, a service which continued until the flood waters receded several days later.


Flooding around The Salvation Army in Worksop (left of picture)
The work of The Salvation Army in Worksop, led by Captain Palmer, was recognised with a visit from the Flood Minister John Healey and local dignitaries who thanked The Salvation Army for its quick response.

Commenting on the award of the MBE, Captain Palmer said she was honoured and humbled to receive it on behalf not just of herself but the many people who worked with her, and those other Salvation Army personnel who came to the aid of communities across the country during the floods.

"Lots of people were involved and I really do feel I am sharing this award with them, " she said.

Captain Palmer said she believed the award is also recognition for the place that The Salvation Army has in the Worksop community.

"The Salvation Army in Worksop, like so many Salvation Army corps (churches) across the UK and Ireland, just keeps working away quietly for the community without much formal recognition and has been doing so for 125 years.

"I like to think this award is not just for the work that we did during the 2007 floods but is recognition of The Salvation Army's Christian commitment to the Worksop community down through the years."


[Re-printed in Christian Today with the kind permission of The Salvation Army]