Queen to Honour Founder of Heroes Welcome UK

John W Senior TD, the Founder of Heroes Welcome UK is to be appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2016 New Years Honours List published in the London Gazette at 22.30hrs on the 30st December 2015.

Citation Reads:

“For services to the Community in Scarborough and to the Armed Forces through Heroes Welcome.”

John and his wife Nicola operate a restaurant and property business in Scarborough, North Yorkshire and John chairs a number of tourism groups and works to support and promote the local and regional tourism offer. They have one daughter Harriet who works and lives in London.

Background

John joined the Territorial Army in 1979 serving with the Yorkshire Volunteers and latterly, 4/5 Bn Green Howards. In December 2001 he was the first TA Officer to be deployed into Afghanistan serving as a Major (SO2 OPs) with 16 UK Air Assault Brigade HQ, he was awarded the Territorial Decoration in 2005.

As well as a successful business career in catering and property, John has given his time freely to many voluntary groups and causes, including, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Scarborough Lifeboat Station RNLI and a former member and Chairman of the Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team. He also organizes outward bound/survival courses for school groups and teenagers, assists with the delivery of Scarborough Armed Forces Day and a Night Before the Colours Military Charity Dinners.

Heroes Welcome UK 2008–2016
From a hand drawn poster to a National Phenomena

In 2008 further to a series of negative national press stories relating to soldiers being discriminated against for wearing their uniforms in public, John placed a hand made poster in one of his restaurants windows declaring that All Heroes were indeed Welcome in Scarborough . The idea look hold and with the help of the Mayor, a small group of Civic Officers and the Local newspaper (Scarborough Evening News) a Heroes Welcome website and Logo were created and by 2012 over 50 Towns Cities and Counties across the UK had joined up to what is simply a free scheme to encourage local communities and businesses to offer a special warm welcome to serving members of the Armed Forces and their families.

In 2012 The Royal British Legion included Heroes Welcome in their Delivery Guide to the Military Covenant, recommending it as the method of choice for communities to show their support in a way that was practical and appropriate. In January 2013, the Government of Gibraltar followed the Falkland Islands Assembly, launching Heroes Welcome in Gibraltar and a scheme for London Black Cabs supported by the London Evening Standard Followed later in 2013. On the 9th December 2015 Kirklees Metropolitan Council, West Yorkshire voted unanimously to become the latest Heroes welcome member Council with a scheme to launch in earlier 2016.

"A really good, simple idea and very much appreciated by all those serving in the Armed Forces!" LT Col Toby Gray , Commanding Officer 1st Bn Coldstream Guards 2011

“I was thrilled and very humbled to have been considered worthy of such a great honour. However in reality this wonderful award reflects not on me, but on the hard work undertaken by our many Heroes Welcome members and the herculean efforts of our small and dedicated team in the Heroes Welcome Office!” John W Senior TD Founder of Heroes Welcome UK

Thank you for your support over the past 8 Years and wishing you all a very prosperous 2016!

Onwards and Upwards!