Outstanding Ian receives the TRT Peter Spillett Award 2026.

A volunteer in the Crane Valley who has been volunteering for more than 30 years to improve his local river has been awarded the prestigious Thames Rivers Trust Peter Spillett Award.

Ian McKinnon a regular volunteer for Friends of the River Crane Environment (FORCE) said it had come as a ‘Complete surprise’ when he was told he was to receive the environmental award from Thames River Trust (TRT).

Miles Morgan, TRT CEO met Ian this week at Crane Park, Twickenham during a FORCE conservation task for water vole habitat improvements that Ian has been spearheading. Miles Morgan said, ‘Ian is hugely deserving of this award. He is an inspiration and a valuable asset to the Crane, its wildlife and the community. Committed volunteers such as Ian are making a real and sustained difference, particularly with projects like this for endangered species.’

The award was created by TRT to celebrate the late Peter Spillett, a Trustee for more than 10 years, who cared passionately about improving the Thames rivers and the wildlife that they sustain. His widow Yvette de Garis joined TRT’s Miles Morgan on the banks of the Crane and presented winner Ian with the engraved silver salver award; she expressed how important wildlife and the Thames rivers were to Peter; and the projects that groups like FORCE undertake.

Pictured left to right: Thames Rivers Trust CEO Miles Morgan, Ian Mckinnon , Yvette de Garis; and Rob Gray from Crane Valley Community Interest Company who nominated Ian.

Read our full press release here.