4th November 2025

The 2025 Milestone Recognition Awards

On Saturday, 25 October, at the Park Plaza Victoria hotel in Westminster a capacity audience of roughly 140 guests attended the Recognition Awards dinner in the final month of Reach Society’s fifteenth year; and in a year of continual celebrations with stakeholders and supporters.

On this particular occasion the Society was honoured to have His Excellency Alexander Williams the Jamaican High Commissioner and members of the media – Ricky Dehaney, BBC Radio WM producer and George Ruddock, Weekly Gleaner MD – with us.

The proceedings started with everyone singing the Windrush Nation song (now seen as an anthem) which was led by Angela Clarke, RAFFA CEO. This was also the first time that the new co-directors on the leadership team – Ritchie Neil, Daniel Yamoah and Giles Speid – gave the Society’s 3-Toasts to our monarch, the corporates and the role models/volunteers.

Everyone was delighted to support the event which has become part of the Society’s tradition for marking the anniversary of the UK’s Windrush Nation; and to thank the corporates and professionals for supporting this year’s inspirational events. Once again this annual event attracted guests from across the UK from places such as Greater London, Birmingham, Durham, Essex, Luton and Manchester.

Early in the proceedings guests heard a tribute from Rudi Page, MCW Ltd & Fresh FM Radio, to Mike Johnson the Life Radio founder and CEO who passed suddenly in May 2025. Mike was posthumously inducted into the LFORS hall of fame for his outstanding work done with the Society. The LFORS gifts were accepted by Mike’s family (his widow, son and his wife).

Guests also heard tributes from Victor Richards, actor, writer and producer of Milestone: SPWG the movie; and Professor Donald Palmer, co-founder of the Society, to Emeritus Professor Sir Geoff Palmer our patron of 10 years who passed in June 2025. In his honour the Society also launched the Sir Geoff Palmer Award to recognise an extraordinary member of the British Black community. The Society’s patron Marva Rollins OBE had the privilege of presenting the Trophy to Professor Kevin Fenton CBE at this inaugural event. More details and images about the Sir Geoff Palmer Award may be found on the Society’s News page.

Guests received a copy of the milestone souvenir brochure which contained written tributes to both Mike Johnson and Sir Geoff Palmer; and scores of images from the many inspirational events and milestone celebrations which were rolled out across the year.

In addition, the brochure included an article entitled: “A Walk Through Time,” about the key things undertaken in each of the 15 years. The 10 metrics featured on its back cover described the impact of the Society in its first 15 years – from engaging more than 50,000 young people, via 70 events, through to operating in 6 cities across the UK, without any grant from the government.

The cohort of guest speakers – His Excellency Alexander Williams, Dr Nelda Frater, President of the Independent Medical Faculty; Anthony Osijo, Bboxx, CEO; Lt Col. Karl Eze, Point Zenith CEO and Professor Kevin Fenton CBE – made inspiring addresses that were simply superb.

The Society wishes to honour Lloyd’s of London for their deep interest in the sustainability of the Sir Geoff Palmer Award, which is seen as an important development in the community.

Five employers – Alpha BSE Training, British Army, Durham University, Imperial College London, and Lloyd’s of London – were presented with the Corporate Champion of Reach Society Awards for their contributions as outstanding collaboration partners.

In addition, five employers – CTSI (London Race and Equality Group), Enfield Caribbean Association, LBEN, RAFFA and The RAF – were presented with the Corporate Fellow of Reach Society Awards for their exemplary commitment to the work the Society is doing to inspire young people.

A further five employers – The Alzheimer’s Society, GIFT, Home Office, Independent Medical Faculty (IMF), and MEAP – were presented with the Corporate Supporter of Reach Society Awards for their engagement with the work the Society is doing to inspire young people.

This report would not be complete without an expression of thanks to the many donors of the raffle prizes – the British Army; the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI); Park Plaza Victoria Hotel; and Reach Society.

Our thanks also to the raffle team of Paula Neil and Sonia Palmer; and to the MC Rob Neil OBE (director of Krystal Alliance) who stepped in when Donald Douglas fell ill a few days before the Awards. We must also not forget the MC assistance provided by Prof. Donald Palmer during the Awards ceremony.

The Society is also grateful to the musicians and DJ – the Ralph Lewars Jazz Quartet and the DJ Ray Morris and the FASS crew – for keeping everyone in the mood. This year’s list of professionals once again included some new volunteers who chose to contribute to the mission; and the Society is enormously grateful to all of them, and we shall know them as the Professional Class of 2025.

In closing, the Society is grateful to the BBC Radio WM and the Weekly Gleaner for the post Awards reporting on the Society’s special evening.

Dr Dwain A. Neil OBE

Chairman, Reach Society (Nov’25)