A former England international footballer, now serving as the sub officer at Acton Fire Station, is set to receive a national award in recognition of her extraordinary service to the community.
Kimberley Jerray-Silver, 48, who has lived in Acton all her life, will be honoured with a British Citizen Award (BCA) later this month for her tireless efforts to bring people together and improve lives.
She is among 27 people from across the UK selected to receive the BCA Medal of Honour for Services to the Community (BCAc), which will be presented at the Palace of Westminster on 24 July 2025.
Before joining the London Fire Brigade in 2004, Ms Jerray-Silver was a trailblazer in women’s football. She played for Arsenal Ladies, winning the FA Cup in 1997, and became one of Europe’s first female professional footballers with Fulham Ladies, winning the treble in 2003.
She also represented England in the Women’s Euro 1997 qualifiers. During this time, she cared for her mother and sister after the death of her father from cancer.
At Acton Fire Station, she launched quarterly tea parties to tackle loneliness, working with Ealing Council to provide community transport for less able residents, ensuring they could get to and from the fire station with ease. Ms Jerray-Silver also runs an annual Halloween party, with more than 1,500 people attending in 2024.
Stephanie Wood from BCA partner One Stop said: “This year’s medallists exemplify the incredible support within our communities.”
The award ceremony will be 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, recipients will take part in a celebratory open-top lap of honour through London.
