Stanley Tomkins honoured with Maundy money
Warmest congratulations to Mr Stanley Tomkins from Christ Church, Kilkeel, who is one of this year’s recipients of the Royal Maundy money. Bishop David nominated Stanley, 83, for his tireless charitable and community work.
Stanley, who said that he very much appreciated this tremendous honour, spent most of his working life as a bank manager in Kilkeel, County Down, where he still lives. Over many years he has given every spare moment of his time to work and raise funds for charity. Only in 2019 did he step down after 25 years as treasurer for the Kilkeel RNLI volunteer crew.
Stanley has raised over £500,000 for Cancer Research and many thousands of pounds for Save the Children. He and his late wife Rose used their home to host coffee parties and other fundraising events, bringing people from different political and religious backgrounds together. In addition, for almost 20 years Stanley has been an active board member and fundraiser for JIMS, a cross–community youth project in Kilkeel.
This hardworking, humble man has given unstintingly of his time and of himself to serve others, including quietly coming alongside people with financial troubles to support them in their journey out of debt.
Sadly, for the second year in a row, the Maundy Service planned for today in St George’s Chapel, Windsor, is not going ahead because of the pandemic. Stanley has, however, received his Maundy coins and a signed letter from the Queen by Special Delivery.
This is not the first time that he has heard from the Palace. In the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2017 Stanley was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to charity.
Also honoured this year, Mr Myrtle Kerr from Kilbroney.
Maundy Money
Each recipient of Maundy money is given two small leather purses by The Queen, one red and one white.
The first contains a small amount of ordinary coinage which symbolises the Sovereign’s gift for food and clothing. The second purse contains Maundy coins up to the value of the Sovereign’s age. The coins are legal tender, but recipients normally prefer to retain them as a keepsake.