Beds & Bars award honours Navy medic

Serena Bennett, acting leading medical assistant at Royal Naval Air Station in Yeovilton, Somerset, was awarded the Fly Navy Heritage Trust Award for Distinction. It was presented by Andrew Griffiths MP at a lunch hosted by Keith Knowles, chief executive officer of Beds & Bars.

Griffiths said: “Serena’s professionalism and commitment really stands out. It is clear she is not only highly competent at her job and totally committed to the well-being of her patients but she consistently steps up to the challenges - whether these are the challenges of treating complex medical conditions or the challenges of leadership - delivering exceptional results and having a real impact on how her department is run. She is a credit to the Royal Navy and the Medical profession.”     

He added: “As Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group, I am particularly pleased to present this Heritage Award on behalf of Beds & Bars. The Beer and Pub industry is one of the oldest Heritage industries in the country and the need to promote and preserve our national heritage is often overlooked.”

Anthony Pender, chairman of the British Institute of Innkeeping, who also attended the presentation, said: “Many ex-servicemen are employed in the industry and we are proud to support military charities.

“Today’s presentation has been a fantastic way to celebrate two Great British institutions – pubs and the Royal Navy – and traditionally they have always gone rather well together!”  

As well as a celebration lunch and overnight stay in London, Serena and her fiancé will be given a weekend break in any one of the Beds & Bars hostels in Europe.

Bennett said: “We cannot thank everyone at Beds & Bars enough for this recognition and for the generous support they give the Fly Navy Heritage Trust.”