Latest news with #AnnieChapman
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
King honours Pink Ladies' tractor run founders
A couple who have raised more than £1.2m for a cancer charity said it was a "huge honour" to be recognised by the King. Annie Chapman, 83, and her husband John, 74, have been appointed MBE in the King's Birthday Honours list for their services to fundraising. The pair, who live near Pulham Market, Norfolk, set up the Pink Ladies' Tractor Road Run more than two decades ago. "It's a huge honour to have, but it's one we like to share... it's teamwork," said Mrs Chapman. "We couldn't do it without a team of all sorts of people. "It was just going to be a one-off bit of fun." Each year a group of women take tractors festooned with pink decorations and travel in convoy around a 20-mile (32km) route of south Norfolk and north Suffolk. Money is raised for Cancer Research UK, and used to fund work in breast cancer developments. The fundraiser was launched when the couple, who were members of tractor clubs and fans of vintage models, decided to set themselves a challenge over a bottle of wine when Mrs Chapman retired. Mr Chapman said he was "surprised" and "delighted" to at the honour but also appreciated, like his wife, that it was a team effort. "On reflection, I thought 'What a wonderful recognition of the event,'" he said. "[It is] not a personal thing so much as a recognition of the event and all the people who help us and make it work." The next event will be held on 6 July when 191 tractors will tour the countryside, setting off from Thorpe Abbotts airfield, near Diss. The procession of pink tractors attracts scores of spectators along the route, and the support in the couple's closest town of Harleston is something they find particularly heart-warming. "It's quite an emotional trip - you can't get through there without choking up," said Mrs Chapman. "People are just so supportive." The couple are among 19 people in the county to be recognised in the King's Birthday Honours. Other Norfolk recipients include Dr Christine Counsell, of Attleborough, who has been appointed OBE for services to education; David Case, of Diss Heritage Triangle Project, appointed MBE for his services to the community, as has Sheelagh Redpath, of Great Yarmouth, for her services to netball. The Birthday Honours are awarded by the King following recommendations by the prime minister, senior government ministers and members of the public. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. King's Birthday Honours: How does the UK honours system work? Pink Ladies' Tractor Run reaches £1m milestone Pink tractor run held for breast cancer research King's Birthday Honours list
BBC News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Pink Ladies' tractor run founders honoured by King
A couple who have raised more than £1.2m for a cancer charity said it was a "huge honour" to be recognised by the Chapman, 83, and her husband John, 74, have been appointed MBE in the King's Birthday Honours list for their services to pair, who live near Pulham Market, Norfolk, set up the Pink Ladies' Tractor Road Run more than two decades ago."It's a huge honour to have, but it's one we like to share... it's teamwork," said Mrs Chapman. "We couldn't do it without a team of all sorts of people."It was just going to be a one-off bit of fun."Each year a group of women take tractors festooned with pink decorations and travel in convoy around a 20-mile (32km) route of south Norfolk and north is raised for Cancer Research UK, and used to fund work in breast cancer fundraiser was launched when the couple, who were members of tractor clubs and fans of vintage models, decided to set themselves a challenge over a bottle of wine when Mrs Chapman Chapman said he was "surprised" and "delighted" to at the honour but also appreciated, like his wife, that it was a team effort."On reflection, I thought 'What a wonderful recognition of the event,'" he said."[It is] not a personal thing so much as a recognition of the event and all the people who help us and make it work." The next event will be held on 6 July when 191 tractors will tour the countryside, setting off from Thorpe Abbotts airfield, near procession of pink tractors attracts scores of spectators along the route, and the support in the couple's closest town of Harleston is something they find particularly heart-warming."It's quite an emotional trip - you can't get through there without choking up," said Mrs Chapman. "People are just so supportive."The couple are among 19 people in the county to be recognised in the King's Birthday Norfolk recipients include Dr Christine Counsell, of Attleborough, who has been appointed OBE for services to education; David Case, of Diss Heritage Triangle Project, appointed MBE for his services to the community, as has Sheelagh Redpath, of Great Yarmouth, for her services to Birthday Honours are awarded by the King following recommendations by the prime minister, senior government ministers and members of the public. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Couple behind Pink Ladies' Tractor Run 'humbled' by MBEs in King's Birthday Honours
A couple whose celebrated Pink Ladies' Tractor Road Run has raised almost £1.3m for breast cancer research said they feel "humbled" after being made MBEs in this year's King's Birthday Honours. Annie and John Chapman first organised the hugely popular annual event in 2004. The eye-catching spectacle sees women wearing pink as they drive decorated tractors through Norfolk and Suffolk. The first year involved 50 tractors, but the event, which raises money for Cancer Research UK, has grown so much that 191 tractors have been signed up for this year's run. The Pink Ladies' Tractor Road Run has raised almost £1.3m for breast cancer research (Image: Charlotte Bond) The Chapmans, who live in Pulham St Mary, near Diss, said the recognition, which follows Mrs Chapman's British Empire Medal awarded in 2014, was a "huge honour". Mrs Chapman, 83, said: "I feel very humbled and very proud. When we started this it was only meant to be a one-off - a bit of fun - and it has just grown and grown. "I think part of the reason for its success is that it is for the ladies and that the charity Cancer Research UK is just such a good charity, particularly for breast cancer. "Twenty-one years is a long time, but we still get a buzz out of it. This is a huge honour." The Pink Ladies' Tractor Road Run (Image: Denise Bradley) The honour was awarded because of the pair's services to fundraising for Cancer Research UK. Mr Chapman, 74, said: "I think this is a recognition of what the event has achieved. Annie and I set it on its way, but it's such a wonderful event. "The years have just whizzed by. When we started it, it was just supposed to be a one-off, but it's taken over our lives!" Annie and John Chapman (Image: Angela Sharpe) The tractor run starts at the 100th Bomb Group Airfield in South Norfolk, across the Waveney Valley into North Suffolk. It then passes through Harleston to a picnic lunch at Gawdy Hall before returning to Thorpe Abbotts. This year's run will take place on Sunday, July 6.
