By the Lord-Lieutenant of Gwent, Brigadier Robert Aitken CBE.

The late Queen Mother is alleged to have coined the job description for members of the Royal family: “…to open things that need opening, and to thank people who need thanking.”

Her Majesty had a somewhat mischievous sense of humour – there’s a bit more to the job than that – but there is nothing mischievous in her stressing the importance of thanking people.

"Ordinary people doing extraordinary things."

The King is the Fount of Honour – that is, he sits at the head of the British honours system, which rewards people who have committed themselves to serving and helping their communities.

We’re talking here about ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

We all know people who fit that description, and we probably do thank them; but how much better if they could receive an award from The King?

We’re talking here about British Empire Medals, or MBEs, or OBEs, or even higher up the scale; but all of these awards have at their heart that the recipient will in some way have made the world a better place.

But these awards don’t just appear: someone has to nominate them. Anyone can nominate anyone for an award: you just need to go online to the government website and search for ‘honours’, and it’s all explained there.

And while you’re thinking about individuals who have gone above and beyond, The King also sponsors a process for rewarding voluntary groups called The King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Sometimes called ‘the MBE of voluntary groups’, a KAVS is the highest award for groups serving their communities in the UK.

The system relies on people like you and me identifying other people in the community who are doing great things, and then nominating them.

If no one fills in the form, they won’t get an award – so it’s up to us to make sure that the people who need thanking get thanked.

All the details of these (and other) ways of thanking people can be found on my website at www.lordlieutenantofgwent.co.uk.