On Friday 6 September, veterans and volunteers from the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans gathered at the ambassador’s residence in The Hague for a reception, at which Joanna Roper CMG, UK Ambassador to the Netherlands, presented Taxi Charity Dutch adviser, Frans Ammerlaan, with an honorary MBE.
His Majesty King Charles III awarded an honorary MBE of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire to Frans in gratitude for services to commemorations and World War II veterans.
Frans has been working with the Taxi Charity as our Dutch adviser since 2010 and became an ambassador for the charity in April 2023.
He founded the Market Garden Foundation, which aims to honour, remember and teach about the Allies who participated in Operation Market Garden in 1944. For over 25 years, the foundation has meticulously collected, curated and preserved thousands of photographs, extracts of film, maps, schemes, stories and other historical items.
UK Ambassador to the Netherlands, Joanna Roper CMG, said: “I am honoured once again to host veterans, their family, and volunteers from the Taxi Charity in The Hague, arriving in a fleet of London taxis. This year is particularly special as we commemorate the 80th anniversary of Operation Market Garden. It is a privilege to hear the stories from the veterans and an important reminder that we must continue to remember the bravery and service that they, and their fallen comrades, showed during the Second World War.
It was also a pleasure to meet the volunteers from the Taxi Charity, without whom these visits would not be possible. This year the Airborne commemorations have sought to shine a spotlight on the volunteers who have driven commemorations for the past 80 years. Therefore, it seemed particularly fitting that I also awarded, on behalf of His Majesty King Charles III, an honorary MBE to Frans Ammerlaan, for his service to commemorations in the Netherlands.”
Frans Ammerlaan, adviser to the Taxi Charity for Military veterans, said: “What an honour to have my family and my Taxi Charity friends with me today as I received my honorary MBE. It was a wonderful occasion and I am very grateful to Ambassador Joanna Roper for inviting us to this reception at her residence and taking the time to talk to so many of the veterans and the charity volunteers.”
Geoff Roberts, a veteran of Operation Market Garden, said: “I am absolutely delighted that my great friend Frans Ammerlaan, who has done so much to support and remember those of us who participated in Operation Market Garden has been made an MBE.”
Paul Cook, London cab driver and Vice Chairman of the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, said: "It was an absolute honour to join Frans today as Ambassador Joanna Roper presented him with his honorary MBE. Frans has worked so hard for our veterans and it is down to his enthusiasm, dedication and tireless efforts that our trips to the Netherlands since 2012 have been possible.”
To find out more about the Market Garden Foundation, visit www.marketgarden.com/2010/UK/foundation.html.