Lord-Lieutenant and GL RFCA’s Award Ceremony 2026

On 20 March, a number of London Cadets, Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers were recognised by the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London for outstanding service to London’s Reserve and Cadet units.

Sir Ken Olisa OBE presented the awards at an Army Reserve Training Centre in Bloomsbury, central London.

The award winners were:

LORD LIEUTENANT’S CERTIFICATES OF MERITORIOUS SERVICE TO

LONDON CADETS

THE GL RFCA CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION FOR

ADULT INSTRUCTORS TO LONDON’S CADET MOVEMENT

THE GL RFCA CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION FOR

CIVILIAN INSTRUCTORS TO LONDON’S CADET MOVEMENT

THE GL RFCA AWARD TO THE MOST OUTSTANDING

SEA CADET CORPS UNIT COMMANDER IN 2025    

THE GL RFCA AWARD TO THE MOST OUTSTANDING

ROYAL MARINES CADET DETACHMENT COMMANDER IN 2025    

THE GL RFCA AWARD TO THE MOST OUTSTANDING

ARMY CADET FORCE DETACHMENT COMMANDERS

THE GL RFCA AWARD TO THE MOST OUTSTANDING

ROYAL AIR FORCE AIR CADETS SQUADRON COMMANDERS

THE GL RFCA AWARD TO OUTSTANDING

COMBINED CADET FORCE SECTION COMMANDER 2025

THE GL RFCA CHAIRMAN’S 30 YEARS’ SERVICE AWARD

CADET FORCE ADULT VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION CERTIFICATE

Lieutenant Colonel Dionne Konstantinious, South East London Army Cadet Force

RECOGNISING SERVICE FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS

NAMES AND YEARS OF SERVICE

THE GL RFCA CADET FORCE SENIOR LEADERS

RECOGNITION ON RELINQUISHING SENIOR COMMAND IN 2025 CERTIFICATE

ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY –

CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION

Awarded for acts of bravery in times of crisis.

Cadet LCpl Connie Lawrence – City of London and NE Sector

Former Cadet LCpl Sofi Martin – Previously City of London and NE Sector

In June 2025, Cadet LCpl Connie Lawrence and former Cadet LCpl Sofi Martin were together in Romford town centre when one of the friends suffered a vicious and unprovoked attack from behind by a person they did not know. The assailant, who was very powerful, had the young man in a headlock on the ground and was choking him. After punching him several times, he struck the youth in the head with a sharp object causing multiple head wounds that bled severely. After two minutes the assailant fled the scene. The attack was too sudden and unexpected for Lawrence and Martin to retaliate but they stood their ground and were clearly in personal danger. Both carried out immediate first aid, sitting the friend down and having the presence of mind to retrieve a first aid kit from a coffee shop close by. They used bandages to control bleeding to his head wound by applying pressure and then dressed the wound. They reassured the friend whilst treating him and when the ambulance arrived, gave a comprehensive handover and described the friend’s injuries. LAWRENCE and MARTIN provided full details and a statement to the police when they arrived. The youth was taken to hospital where he was treated for concussion and had multiple stitches.

LORD-LIEUTENANT’S CADETS

THE ULYSSES TRUST

OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD

The Ulysses Trust Outstanding Service Award is presented on behalf of the Ulysses Trust charity in recognition of outstanding service supporting the development of cadets through challenge and adventure. It is awarded to Cadet Force Adult Volunteers who demonstrate initiative, enthusiasm, planning ability, and steadfast determination in delivering adventurous and challenging activities that provide young people with transformative, life-changing experiences. This evening, we have three awards to present.

THE ULYSSES TRUST ROYAL PATRON EXPEDITION AWARD

SNJOR MOUNTAINEER 2024 – ICELAND

The Ulysses Trust Royal Patron Expedition Award is presented in recognition of an outstanding expedition undertaken by members of the UK Reserve Forces and Cadet community that demonstrates exemplary planning, execution, and impact through challenge and adventure. This award celebrates ventures that push the boundaries of adventurous training, foster leadership, teamwork and resilience, and provide profound personal and professional growth for participants. Tonight we are presenting the certificate for the Reserve category. For outstanding leadership and organisational excellence in planning and delivering the Snjor Mountaineer 2024 ski mountaineering expedition to Iceland, the Army Mountaineering Association is commended. This ambitious venture aimed to prepare and guide a team through demanding off-piste ski training, technical mountaineering challenges, and, ultimately, the successful summit of Iceland’s highest peak standing at approximately (2,110 m)—Britain’s first achievement of this peak by a military team. Throughout the expedition, participants developed advanced technical skills, demonstrated exceptional teamwork, met complex environmental and safety challenges, and engaged in community and conservation activities, exemplifying the very highest standards of adventurous training and personal development.

The award went to The Army Mountaineering Association.

LORD LIEUTENANT’S CERTIFICATES OF

MERITORIOUS SERVICE TO RESERVE FORCES

THE GLRFCA SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD

This certificate recognises exceptional support provided to the Armed Forces Community in London through tireless activity and advocacy, as outlined on the next page.

Awarded to Lance Bombardier Florence King (née Walker)

106 (Yeomanry) Regiment Royal Artillery

Lady Mayoress of City of London (2024-25)

LONDON’S VOLUNTEER RESERVIST OF THE YEAR

Runner-Up

Flt Lt William Nolan, 600 (City of London) Squadron

Winner

LCpl Quadi Benanaibar, B Coy 4th Battalion, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment

We were also treated to two brilliant musical performances.

Images

Click the button below to find images from the night.

Editor’s Note(s):

1. The Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London is the personal representative of the monarch, currently King Charles III, in Greater London. Each Lord-Lieutenant is assisted in, largely ceremonial, duties by Deputy Lieutenants whom he appoints; the Lieutenancy Office is based at Whitehall, London SW1.
2. GL RFCA is the focal point of activity and administration for reserves and cadets of all three Services in London. We came into existence in 1908 at the same time as the Territorial Army, as did 12 other autonomous Reserve Forces and Cadets Associations (RFCAs) spread throughout the United Kingdom.
3. Lord-Lieutenants’ Awards may be awarded to any serving reservist with the Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Marines Reserve, Army Reserve or Royal Auxiliary Air Force, and regular service personnel and civilians (e.g. civil and crown servants) who are employed in direct support of the reserve forces.