Festival Medical Services have been presented with the Queen's highest award for voluntary groups in the UK at Glastonbury Festival – where their story began 43 years ago.

HM The Queen's representative in Somerset, Lord Lieutenant Annie Maw, is a local resident and visited the site, together with Festival Founder Michael Eavis, to present the prestigious award to FMS volunteers.

The charity was actually awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in June 2020 – but everyone involved wanted to wait for the return of Glastonbury Festival so as many members as possible could be present to see it handed over.

The charity's doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals, together with support staff, volunteer at music festivals, such as Glastonbury and Reading, and other high-profile outdoor events. They offer a full on-site emergency medical service for fans, plus other healthcare services such as dentistry, podiatry, physiotherapy and mental healthcare.

FMS particularly prides itself on how few of its patients ever need to go off-site for treatment. They expect to see about 5,000 people over the next three days – the vast majority of whom will be experiencing only minor illnesses or injuries – and only about fifty will need to go to hospital.

The group also raises money for other medical charities – both in the UK and abroad – and pre-pandemic was donating up to £100,000 to other good causes every year, and they have donated more than £1 million altogether.

Most recently they have been partnering with World Extreme Medicine to fund, fill and send boxes of trauma medicine kit to the parts of Ukraine facing the heaviest fighting in the ongoing war. They have sent 60 so far and have another 60 in preparation.

The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service recognises outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. It was originally created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen's then Golden Jubilee.

Dr Chris Howes, Managing Director and founder of Festival Medical Services, says: "The organisation we have grown into is scarcely recognisable as that which received its first patient in a kitchen at Worthy Farm, Pilton, in 1979.

"Our volunteers now come from all over the country and provide a hugely comprehensive range of high-quality medical services.

"They show relentless commitment and dedication and devote their skills, energy and experience to ensure the service we provide is second to none.

"FMS volunteers aspires to the highest possible standards in the clinical care and professionalism they offer to Glastonbury Festival. Added to that we are a family, and we look after each other – especially when the elements may be challenging, and we are coping with rain and mud, or extreme heat, as well.

"I am delighted on behalf of these dedicated colleagues that their work has been recognised and it is marvellous to receive this award in Her Majesty The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Year – that makes it even more special to us."