On Wednesday, 8 July 2026, The Air League welcomed members, supporters, partners, scholars, volunteers, industry leaders, parliamentarians and distinguished guests to the House of Lords for our Annual Reception and Awards Ceremony.
Kindly sponsored by Bristow, the evening brought together some of the most influential voices in aviation, aerospace and space to celebrate outstanding achievement, recognise exceptional service and reinforce a shared commitment to creating opportunities for the next generation. As well as sponsoring the event itself, Bristow also partnered with Onboard Systems to sponsor the Billy Deacon Award. The Air League extends its sincere thanks for their continued support.
Opening the reception, The Air League’s CEO, Janine Hornsby, reminded guests that the evening was as much about community as it was about awards.
“Tonight is not only about presenting awards; it’s also an opportunity for us to thank the many organisations and individuals who have supported and collaborated with The Air League over the past year.”
The evening provided a fitting opportunity to reflect on another remarkable year for the charity. Over the past 12 months, The Air League awarded 120 fully funded scholarships, engaged more than 20,000 young people across the UK, supported members of the Armed Forces community, in partnership with Boeing, through its Battle Back recovery programme and continued to deliver innovative outreach activities across aviation, aerospace and space.
unlocking untapped talent
One of the most impactful initiatives delivered this year was The Air League’s partnership with The Mason Foundation, supporting neurodivergent young people through a dedicated programme of workshops and engagement activities. Together, we worked with 30 students in Manchester throughout the academic year, helping them develop confidence, skills and a deeper understanding of the opportunities available across aviation, aerospace and space.
The programme highlighted both the extraordinary potential of neurodivergent young people and the importance of ensuring our industries create pathways that recognise and nurture diverse talent. Through practical activities, industry engagement and exposure to real career opportunities, participants were able to explore how their strengths could translate into future careers.
"It highlighted the enormous, untapped potential of these young people. Having worked with thousands of students throughout my career, I can honestly say they are some of the most creative and effective problem-solvers I've ever encountered."
She added that the experience reinforced the need for the aviation and aerospace sectors to do more to identify, support and develop talent from all backgrounds.
The initiative was also highlighted during the evening by the Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation, Keir Mather MP, who praised The Air League’s work with neurodiverse students as an example of the targeted support needed to attract diverse talent into the sector and address future workforce challenges.
Collaboration driving opportunity
A key theme throughout the evening was the importance of collaboration.
Reflecting on the challenges facing the sector, Janine spoke passionately about the need for organisations to work together to create meaningful pathways for young people.
“The aviation and aerospace sector works tirelessly on initiatives to inspire young people, but we're still too fragmented. If we're serious about tackling the growing skills shortage, we need to work together to create clearer, joined-up pathways into industry. Inspiration is very important, but it must lead somewhere, and it is only through effective collaboration that we can achieve this.”
Those themes were brought to life through examples from Air League programmes, including Project Slingshot, which saw every participating student secure their first-choice apprenticeship. Sharing one particularly moving success story, Janine reflected on a student who went on to achieve an apprenticeship with Rolls-Royce despite significant personal challenges.
“When we talk about changing lives through aviation, that's exactly what we mean.”
inspiring voices from government and the raf
Guests were treated to keynote addresses from Aviation Minister, Keir Mather MP, and Air Vice-Marshal Cab Townsend CBE, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff.
In his address, Keir highlighted the importance of inspiring and investing in future talent at a pivotal time for the sector. As aviation embraces innovation, sustainability
and new technologies, he stressed that success would depend on the people entering the industry today.
“Ultimately, the decades ahead will be defined by the people that we inspire and that we invest in today.”
He praised The Air League’s work in helping bridge the gap between young people’s enthusiasm for aviation and real-world career opportunities through scholarships, mentoring and hands-on experiences.
Air Vice-Marshal Cab Townsend focused on the importance of widening access to opportunity and ensuring that talent can thrive regardless of background.
“Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not always a level playing field and The Air League works tirelessly to close that gap and ensure that ability, determination and potential are what matters most.”
He also highlighted the role organisations, such as The Air League, play in developing future professionals, leaders and citizens, helping to build the workforce on which aviation, aerospace and national prosperity depend.
From postcodes to planets:
welcoming tim peake
We were honoured to welcome British Astronaut, Tim Peake to this year’s Annual Reception, where he joined us to present the 2026 Air League Awards. Few individuals embody the power of inspiration quite like Tim, whose dedication to engaging young people has encouraged countless future aviators, engineers and space professionals to dream bigger and aim higher.
Introducing Tim, Janine shared a deeply personal reflection on the impact his mission had on the students she taught while working as a science teacher in one of the UK’s most deprived communities.
“I watched them go from not wanting to leave their own postcode, to dreaming about one day leaving the planet. The fact that he used his platform to reach millions of young people across the world made me think, one day, when I grow up, I would love the opportunity to do the same and he is a big reason why I do what I do now.”
It was a fitting reminder of the transformative power of aspiration and role models; something reflected throughout the evening.
billy deacon award
One of the evening’s highlights was the presentation of the Billy Deacon Search and Rescue Memorial Trophy to Helicopter Rescue Paramedic, James O’Neill.
Sponsored by Bristow Helicopters and Onboard Systems, the Trophy was established in memory of Billy Deacon, a Coastguard winchman who lost his life during the rescue of crew members from the MV Green Lily off Shetland in 1997. The award recognises Winch Paramedics and Winch Operators working within the UK and Irish Search and Rescue regions who have demonstrated exceptional skill, courage and professionalism during rescue operations over land and sea.
The award was presented by Peter Sparkes, Chief Executive Officer of the RNLI, and this year’s recipient, James O’Neill, was recognised for his outstanding dedication and commitment to saving lives, receiving a warm and well-deserved ovation from guests.
Congratulations to James on this significant and richly deserved achievement.
air league award winners 2026
President's Meritorious Service Award
Grenville Hodge
Recognised for his outstanding contribution to The Air League over eight years as Treasurer and Trustee. Through dedication, professional expertise and unwavering commitment, Grenville played a vital role in safeguarding the charity’s finances and strengthening its governance.
gold medal
Sir Stephen Hillier and Sir Michael Ryan CBE
This year, the Air League Gold Medal was awarded jointly to two outstanding individuals.
Sir Stephen was awarded for his exceptional service to UK aviation and the causes of The Air League. From achieving his Private Pilot’s Licence at 17 to serving as Chief of the Air Staff and Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Sir Stephen’s leadership and advocacy have left a lasting impact on British aviation.
Sir Michael was recognised for an extraordinary four-decade career in aerospace leadership. Through senior roles at Shorts, Bombardier, Spirit AeroSystems and Boeing, Sir Michael has helped shape the UK’s aerospace industry and strengthen its international reputation (President of Boeing UK and Ireland, Sir Jeremy Quin collected Sir Michael’s award on his behalf).
Founders' medal
Andy Offer OBE and Chris Norton OBE DFC
Awarded for their vision, innovation and outstanding contribution to UK aerospace through the creation and growth of 2Excel. Twenty years after its founding, the company now employs more than 650 people and operates a fleet of over 30 aircraft, delivering specialist aerospace services across multiple sectors.
Scott-Farnie medal
Ian Seager
Recognised for his exceptional contribution to air education and the promotion of general aviation through FLYER Magazine and Pilot Careers Live, helping countless aspiring pilots access careers and opportunities within aviation.
jeffrey quill medal
Jess Gilbert
Awarded for her outstanding contribution to developing air-mindedness among Britain’s youth through her leadership of the RAF Air Cadet Charity, benefiting tens of thousands of young people across the UK.
marshall of Cambridge Award
Daniel Oriakhi
Recognised for his exceptional support of The Air League as a recent scholar. Having achieved his Private Pilot’s Licence while working full-time, Daniel continues to give back through mentoring, volunteering and helping shape Air League programmes for future generations.
Framed Addresses
Framed Addresses were presented to individuals whose contributions have made a significant impact on aviation, aerospace and aviation education:
Rob Taylor
For outstanding service to The Air League’s scholarship programme and mentoring aspiring pilots.
Etienne Brown
For his exceptional contribution to aviation education and student development (Janine collected the framed address on Etienne’s behalf).
Amelia Richardson
For inspiring air-mindedness and widening access to flying through instruction and outreach.
Jacqueline Castle
For her strategic leadership in developing the UK Aerospace Technology Strategy 2026.
Connecting today's leaders
with tomorrow's talent
One of the most inspiring aspects of the evening was seeing so many leaders from across aviation, aerospace and space sharing a room with students, apprentices, scholarship recipients and future industry professionals. The breadth of experience present was remarkable, but even more encouraging was the enthusiasm of the next generation, eager to learn, connect and contribute.
The reception served as a powerful reminder that talent exists everywhere. Through collaboration, opportunity and the dedication of supporters across the sector, The Air League continues to ensure that young people can access the experiences, networks and pathways needed to succeed.
Our sincere thanks go to Bristow for sponsoring the Annual Reception, Onboard Systems for sponsoring the Billy Deacon Award, our keynote speakers Keir Mather MP and Air Vice-Marshal Cab Townsend CBE, Tim Peake for presenting the awards, and every supporter, volunteer, member, corporate partner and guest who joined us.
Most importantly, congratulations to all our award recipients. Your achievements represent the very best of aviation, aerospace and space, and your stories continue to inspire future generations to aim higher, dream bigger and reach further.
