Prime Minister invites SVP chiefs to Downing Street

Elizabeth Palmer and Adrian Abel at Downing Street

Prime Minister David Cameron invited St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) National President, Adrian Abel, and CEO, Elizabeth Palmer, to a reception at 10 Downing Street on Wednesday 28 January to celebrate their Big Society Award.

The SVP was one of about 50 organisations including sports clubs, arts associations and charities present to celebrate their awards.

Mr Cameron commended all those who have given their time to serve the community and urged them to continue to serve. He told them that a Vicar had reminded him that he hadn’t invented the Big Society; the credit belongs to Jesus.

Mr Cameron asked Mr Abel and Mrs Palmer about the SVP’s work, and on hearing that the Society befriend people who live alone, especially older people, he commented that there would invariably be an increase in the need for such work as the number of older people increases.

Adrian Abel commented: “Going up the stairs of No 10 there are pictures of former Prime Ministers dating back to the 18th Century. One Prime Minister who served from August 1827 until January 1828 who had connections to the SVP was Frederick J Robinson. His son, George Frederick Robinson, was born in Downing Street in October 1827, and became 1st Marquess of Ripon. He was a Freemason but converted to Catholicism in 1874 and subsequently became the SVP’s National President in 1899 until his death in 1909. Always a progressive politician, serving in government for a short time alongside Winston Churchill, he was known as a great conciliator, and I hope he was looking down on us from heaven with approval”.

For more information on the SVP see: www.svp.org.uk.