“One of a kind” JLGB volunteer recognised in New Year’s Honours List

Linda Diamond awarded an MBE for services to Young People

• Award follows 35 years of dedicated service as a JLGB adult volunteer
• Linda has run the JLGB band in Redbridge every week for over 30 years, impacting the lives of thousands of young musicians

JLGB is proud to announce that Linda Diamond, who has served as a JLGB volunteer for the last 35 years, has been recognised in the 2021 New Year’s Honours List and awarded an MBE for services to Young People.

Linda joined the JLGB as a young member over 40 years ago and went on to become an adult volunteer in 1985. Since then, Linda’s passion and dedication as a volunteer, and particularly as the leader of the JLGB Redbridge band, has had an immeasurable impact on thousands of young people. Her three children also played in the band, and as adults, all are current volunteers for JLGB groups around the country.

As the group leader of JLGB’s Redbridge Band, Linda has inspired thousands of young musicians to grow in confidence, develop their skills and pursue their ambitions. She has also empowered and mobilised so many other JLGB volunteers to make a difference in many national and regional roles, including the roles of Essex regional volunteer manager and as the national bands officer, responsible for running many musical development weekends, remembrance parades and national camps.

In recent years, Linda has also worked for JLGB’s professional team as Senior Membership Administrator, supporting JLGB local groups across England, Scotland and Wales, whilst also helping to coordinate international JLGB programmes that have brought hundreds of young people together from across the UK, Israel, Russia and France.

The award marks another inspiring moment of JLGB’s 125^th anniversary year which also saw HRH The Prince of Wales announced as JLGB’s new Patron. JLGB’s Virtual programme also launched in 2020 in response to the coronavirus, successfully keeping young people across the country engaged with community and social action throughout the pandemic and national lockdowns, achieving over 2.1 million online views. Only last month, JLGB were announced as a finalist for the upcoming national Children & Young People Now Awards in recognition of JLGB Virtual.

Speaking following the announcement, JLGB Chief Executive Neil Martin OBE said:

“Linda is a cherished JLGB volunteer and staff member, who is loved and respected in equal measure across our organisation. There can be no more uplifting way to mark the end of this extremely challenging year than Linda being awarded an MBE. I say this not just as JLGB Chief Executive, but as one of the many musicians Linda has inspired – she was my first ever JLGB leader when I was a teenager. Linda really is one of a kind and her care and dedication has shaped the lives of countless young people, in Redbridge and beyond. It is an absolute delight to everyone in JLGB that her unparalleled service has been recognised in this way.”

Wes Streeting, MP for Ilford North, was one of many people who wrote in support of Linda’s nomination, including parents, volunteers and JLGB staff and community leaders who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Linda.

Speaking following the announcement, Linda Diamond MBE said:

“I feel very humbled and overwhelmed. I have never wanted recognition but wanted to give young people the opportunity to be involved in an amazing organisation that gave me so much during my teenage years and to ensure my own kids had the same experiences. There is nothing more rewarding that seeing young people have fun, build friendships, develop their skills and confidence, and grow into the next generation of leaders. I work with some amazing, dedicated volunteers without whom I could not have continued for so long and who also deserve thanks.”