A former England international footballer, now serving as sub officer at Acton Fire Station, has been honoured with a national award in recognition of her extraordinary service to the community.
Kimberley Jerray-Silver, 48, who has lived in Acton all her life, received the prestigious British Citizen Award (BCA) for Services to the Community at a ceremony at the Palace of Westminster last Thursday (24 July 2025).
The former Lioness was among 27 people from across the UK selected to receive the BCA Medal of Honour, celebrating their dedication to improving the lives of others.
Before joining the London Fire Brigade in 2004, Ms Jerray-Silver made her mark in women’s football, playing for Arsenal Ladies and winning the FA Cup in 1997. She later became one of Europe’s first female professional footballers with Fulham Ladies, achieving a treble win in 2003. She also represented England in the Women’s Euro 1997 qualifiers – all while caring for her mother and sister after the death of her father from cancer.
At Acton Fire Station, she launched quarterly tea parties aimed at tackling loneliness, particularly among older residents. Working closely with Ealing Council, Age Concern, and Ealing Community Transport, Ms Jerray-Silver ensured that guests with limited mobility could travel safely and easily to the fire station.
Ms Jerray-Silver said: “When I first joined London Fire Brigade I wanted to use the skills I’d learned as a professional footballer in a new way that would help people in my local area.
“The idea for the tea parties came about when we carried out Home Fire Safety Visits. We met lots of older people who were lonely because they didn’t have family nearby or they had mobility issues.
“We ring each person individually, invite them to a party and arrange free transport for them with the help of Ealing Community Transport and Age Concern.
“Even just having a date in the calendar can make people feel like they aren’t alone and gives them something to look forward to.
“At the parties, our Fire Cadets help to provide drinks, snacks and conversation for the guests. Over the years, we’ve had entertainment from a choir of local schoolchildren, ballet dancers and even a string quartet.
“I never expected to win an award and it’s not why we do the tea parties, we just want to help to combat loneliness in our community. The award is shared by everyone involved, including my Watch, the Cadets, their Volunteer Instructors and the countless others across the Brigade who have pitched in over the years.”
In addition to the tea parties, Ms Jerray-Silver also organises an annual Halloween party that drew more than 1,500 attendees in 2024.
Stephanie Wood from BCA partner One Stop said: “This year’s medallists exemplify the incredible support within our communities.”
The award ceremony was hosted by TV presenter Matt Allwright and attended by BCA patrons Dame Mary Perkins, co-founder of Specsavers, and The Rt Hon Lord Dholakia. Following the event, medallists took part in a celebratory open-top lap of honour through London.
