The Chief Executive of Haven House Children’s Hospice has received a prestigious award from the Mayor of Havering for his long-standing services to the community.

Mike Palfreman, from Hornchurch, was presented with the Mayor’s Civic Award by Councillor Brian Eagling in a ceremony at the Town Hall in Romford on Tuesday 12 April.

The Mayor’s Civic Awards is an annual event, held every spring, to recognise community-spirited residents, volunteers and other local people.

Before becoming Chief Executive of Haven House in 2011, Mike served as Chief Executive of Age Concern Havering from 2005 until 2010. He led the charity through a period of strong growth in terms of income and services, including day care, dementia support, information, advocacy and befriending.

Mike has also been a long-standing volunteer of the 3H Club – a small charity providing social activities, day trips and weekends away for disabled people in the borough. He has supported the charity since 1985 and served as a Trustee for 18 years which included a 12-year term as Chair.

Despite his busy schedule and demanding role at Haven House, where he has helped grow the hospice so that it now supports 329 children per year across North and North East London, West Essex and East Hertfordshire, Mike still finds time to drive The 3H Club minibus taking members to and from club each month.

On receiving his Civic Award from Mayor Eagling, a delighted Mike said: “I felt immensely privileged to be recognised in this way, particularly as I have lived in Hornchurch all my life. It was my volunteering with The 3H Club that led to me first finding paid work in the voluntary sector which in turn has ultimately led me here to Haven House.

“Though based on the border of Waltham Forest and Redbridge, Haven House does provide support for increasing numbers of children and families in Havering, something that is important to me personally. I am very grateful to the Mayor of Havering and many others for their kind words”.

Find out more about the areas we serve by visting our catchment page.