A number of Watford residents achieved some well-deserved royal recognition when the New Year Honours were announced last month.
They included the Reverend Michael Pilavachi who started the Soul Survivor Watford Church in 1993 for young people in the town who didn’t have any connection with the church.
He was awarded an MBE.
The church now has four services on a Sunday which regularly gather 800+ people of all ages.
The MBE also recognized Mike for his work running Soul Survivor festivals which began in 1993 and ended in 2019.
A spokesman for the church said Mike was humbled by the honour.
He added: “The Soul Survivor family is incredibly proud of Mike; he is an inspirational leader who has given his time and energy sacrificially over many years because he’s so passionate about young people knowing the love of Jesus and living life in all its fullness.”
Susan Lamford, also known as Kate Flatt, got an MBE for services to choreography.
She said: “I am both very honoured and proud to receive the award. My career has taken diverse directions but Choreography for dance, theatre and musicals has always been my passion – as well as teaching young people. I feel fortunate to have had wonderful opportunities to develop my work nationally and internationally, including here in Watford”
Other Watford residents to be honoured include Michael Anthony Norcott Thompson, chief executive officer of Childbase, who was made a CBE for services to education and philanthropy and Birte Harlev-lam, from Watford, clinical director, maternity and children, NHS Improvement who was made an OBE for services to maternity and young people’s care.
Ms Harlev-Lam, now the Royal College of Midwives executive director, has been a midwife for over 34 years working across a range of areas within midwifery.
She said: “I am overwhelmed but also proud to have been recognised in this way. This honour also belongs to all my colleagues over the years who have supported and worked alongside me. It also belongs to all the women, babies and families that it has been my pleasure to support and care for over the years.”
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