Monday, October 05, 2009VISAR President is awarded MBE
President Phil Aspinall to fly home to U.K. for MBE
VISAR President Phil Aspinall is to be presented his MBE, awarded back in June in the Queen's Birthday Honours list (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, II on October 15th 2009.
The award is given for for outstanding service to the community that merits public recognition. For persons whose 'hands-on' service is an example to others. This prestigous honour dates back to 1917 when King George V sought to fill what he deemed were gaps in the British Honours system. Over the years the appointments have been used to recognise military and civil accomplishments not previously formally recognised by the Crown.
Phil's love of and commitment to Virgin Islands Search & Rescue is his passion and will be his legacy and now is a shining example of the intent of the honour bestowed on him as a Member of the Order of the British Empire. Phil, the man who can't say "no," assists other non-profit organisations including The BVI Humane Society Dog Show, CADA (Community Agency on Drug & Addiction) and the Cedar School Auction. Every December you'll find Phil helping Father Christmas land on the Governor's Roof for the Annual Children's Party!
Phil also attends PIE (Public Information) and DDM (Disaster Preparedness) meetings. Mass casualty excercises for the Airport and Cruise ships within the USVI waters. "Prevention is better than cure", he rightly says.
Comfortable talking in front of many people, Phil is often called upon to speak at Public meetings, local television and radio. He also attend the CSAR (Caribbean Search & Rescue) and IMRF (International Maritime Rescue Federation) Search & Rescue forums both in the Caribbean and World events, where he is called upon to share VISAR's accomplishments and teach fledgling SAR organisations how to start and maintain a fully functioning, self funding and extrememly efficient SAR Organisation. His enthusiasm for what he does is evident which inturn encourages others to 'have a go' and not to give up.
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of Chivalry established on June 4, 1917. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions, in order of seniority:
Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GBE)
Knight or Dame Commander (KBE or DBE)
Commander (CBE)
Officer (OBE)
Member (MBE)
The highest two ranks are knightly. Other notable people receiving this honour include all four members of the Beatles, in 1965, Chef Jamie Oliver , in 2003 and Zara Philips, eldest granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh in 2007.
Phil Aspinall arrived in Tortola for the first time back in March of 1990 on Loan Service from the British Royal Air Force. He spent 2 years working on Drug Interdiction with the Royal VI Police Aviation Unit. During this time Phil was introduced to the people and functions of a group called VISAR. The RVI Police Force and VISAR were already firm allies.
By May 1992 it was time to leave, though that did not last long as Phil returned to the UK, merely to retire from the Air Force and was back in Tortola by October of that same year.
A member of VISAR since October 1992. Phil has served as Coordinator, equipment engineer and Fundraising volunteer. He first became President of VISAR in 1997 for one term and then re- elected in 2002 to date. Phil has become the "face and voice of VISAR."
Governor Frank Savage CMG LVO OBE (BVI Governor 1998-2002) wrote:
"I was delighted to see the announcement of the award of an MBE to Phil Aspinall, the President of VISAR. I know from my long association with VISAR, firstly in Tortola and then as a trustee of the VISAR Trust in the U.K, how much the organisation has contributed to the success of the BVI as a premier sailing destination, and how much Phil has personally contributed to this success. I should also like to extend my congratulations to VISAR on it's 20th Anniversary. VISAR does not always get the recognition and praise that it deserves for its selfless and dedicated work but I hope that the award to Phil Aspinall will serve as an encouragement to all the volunteers that make VISAR the truly professional life saving organisation that it is."
Phil has also received letters from The RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institute) and the IMRF (International Maritime Rescue Federation.
Congratulation Phil from everyone at and associated with VISAR and the BVI community as a whole.
Past recipients from the BVI:
2009 - Foxy Calwood
2008 - Mr. Ashford Frett
2007 - Mrs. Claudia Creque
2005 - Mrs. Garcis Adailia Stevens
2004 - Mrs. Heather Cuff
2003 - Mrs. Edris O'Neal
1998 - Rev. Reginald Cromwell, Mrs. Penelope Haycraft