Subscribe to the newsletter
When Damen Naval CAD Application Manager Peter Geschiere (64) and his wife Elna were invited to a networking meeting for their son, they arrived unsuspectingly at Middelburg City Hall on King’s Day. Upon seeing the crowd of people, Peter began to suspect something, and when he saw some acquaintances, he knew for certain: Elna was getting a Royal Decoration from the King! He was only half right, however, because although Elna (62) indeed received a well-deserved royal recognition for her voluntary work, she was not the only one. Peter was also appointed Member of the Order of Oranje-Nassau. This was a unique feat, as it very rarely happens that a married couple is honoured simultaneously.
“It is very special,” says Peter. “I think it is very justified that my wife has received this recognition, but I did not expect it would be my turn as well. Last year, my wife got someone to the town hall with an excuse and I remember thinking at the time: you just went through with that, didn’t you? But when it was my turn, I didn’t think about it for a moment.”
Elna and Peter Geschiere show their King's Honours.
The couple have been active Red Cross volunteers for decades and offer home care for their parents. Peter is also closely involved in the Mission Reformed Church and a regional paper collection and recycling scheme. And between all this volunteer work, he also works full-time at Damen Naval, and the couple have raised four children together: Willemijn, Niels, Arwin and Daniëlle. In addition, they have eight grandchildren.
Accompanied by their family and friends, they received their Royal Decoration from the mayor of Middelburg Harald Bergmann. Peter: “For every person who receives a royal award, 20 guests are invited, but of course we were lucky and had 40 guests. We were first received in a separate room with tea, coffee and cake and then ushered into the main hall. There we walked to the front to the sound of loud applause. The mayor also mentioned how special it is for a couple to receive an award at the same time.”
The award ceremony was held in the great hall of Middelburg City Hall.
The official announcement for the royal honour states that Peter “has been involved with the Red Cross as a volunteer since 1998, most recently mainly for the reception of refugees. He has also been active as a volunteer for ZGG (Zending Gereformeerde Gemeente: Mission Reformed Church) for 30 years. For this, he has taken on various tasks on a voluntary basis: secretarial tasks, organising mission fairs, board functions, founding second-hand charity shop Ramsjburg in Middelburg, organising old paper collection for the ZGG, etc. From 1992 to the present, Decorandus has been representative treasurer of the Regionaal Overleg Papier Actie Zuid Nederland [a regional paper collection and recycling scheme]. And from 2010, as carer for both parents. All activities he performs alongside his full-time job at Damen Naval in Vlissingen.”
A total of 13 Middelburg residents received Royal Awards this year.
The following was written about his wife: “Decoranda (62 years old) has been associated with the Red Cross for over forty years (from 1980). Based on her personal philosophy of life, she dedicates herself to her fellow man and society in various ways. She does this not only on Walcheren and in the Netherlands, but also far beyond our national borders. During the Balkan war in the 1990s, she cared for refugees there and returned to the Netherlands by train with hundreds of wounded refugees. For the Walcheren Red Cross, she made working visits to Bulgaria in 2011, 2013, 2018 and 2022 with, among other things, food, medicine, wheelchairs, walking frames, clothing and two (wheelchair) buses. These were donated by volunteers and the Red Cross for vulnerable elderly Bulgarians in remote areas and care homes.”
The King's Honours
“In 2018, she travelled to Kyustendil in Bulgaria with a group of schoolchildren to introduce them to the Bulgarian Red Cross and accompany them during a regional first aid competition. Before that, a sale was organised with which the proceeds could be used to purchase washing machines for the local home. In Sofia, she attended an international conference on psychosocial care. Decoranda has also participated in national and international first aid competitions as a first aid team commander, even becoming the Dutch champion in 2007. She has a strong social commitment, in addition to bringing up her four children.”
“Elna Geschiere is also a Red Cross instructor and volunteers for regional and national events, assists in emergencies as a member of the Red Cross Emergency Response Team. This included attending annual qualification training courses and being on-call at all times. From 2016, as a volunteer for LOTUS circle. She has provided informal care for her parents since 2010, now only for her mother.”
Peter proudly concludes, “This is only part of everything that Elna has done, so she really deserved her recognition. And it was extra special to receive this honour together.”