The 200-plus volunteers at the Regal Theatre in Minehead have been presented with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award given to volunteer groups acraoss the UK and equivalent to an MBE.   

Lord Lieutenant of Somerset Annie Maw presented the award to Victoria Thomas, chairman of the Regal Theatre, in a ceremony in Minehead on Tuesday, October 19.  

Mrs Maw was accompanied by Rear Admiral Ian Moncrieff who worked with Regal volunteers on their citation.  

Mrs Maw explained her role as a representative of the Queen and emphasised how special the award for voluntary service is, saying that fewer than half of those nominated are successful. 

Under normal circumstances, the presentation ceremony would have taken place at Buckingham Palace following the announcement of the award last June as part of the Queen’s birthday honours.

Accepting the award on behalf of all the Regal volunteers, Victoria said it was a huge honour and would undoubtedly give the theatre a great boost.

“The Regal Theatre offers an amazing variety of live performance in the form of theatre, opera, ballet concerts and community shows like the panto, as well as film and live screenings,” said Victoria.

“But its roots are in the amateur theatrical groups who used to perform their shows at the Regal when it was a commercial cinema run by John and Doreen Welch.  

“John and Doreen later leased it at a peppercorn rent to a specially formed organisation consisting entirely of volunteers to run the Regal as a community theatre.

“The common theme that runs through this is one of inclusivity and diversity. Our volunteers make this all possible, and we’re always on the lookout for more.”

The ceremony included a brief show as a homage to the theatre’s origins, featuring representatives of the member amateur theatre groups. The event was attended by Regal volunteers and community leaders, including Mr and Mrs Welch, and Mr and Mrs Pat and Beryl Scott, who are developing the premises next door to the Regal into a commercial cinema.