The congregation of an Oxfordshire church has been awarded a Chief Constable’s commendation award for their work in welcoming families bereaved through road traffic collisions to an annual memorial service.

The reverend Alan Garratt and his congregation at St Mary the Virgin Church, Thame, have been recognised by Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, Sara Thornton.

They were presented the award at a ceremony at Drayton Park Golf Club on Thursday.

Each year for the past three years the church has hosted a multi-faith memorial service for family and friends of those who have lost loved ones in fatal traffic accidents throughout Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley region.

Rev Garratt said: “It’s very good for people to realise that they are not alone in this and that the grief that they feel is not something that is just isolated to them.

“It’s a helpful thing to provide a day in the year in particular when they can focus and can think and remember in a safe environment.”

Thames Valley Police chaplain Cannon David Wilbraham, pictured above taking the service in 2008, said dozens of families had benefited from the kindness and care of worshippers at the church.

He said: “It’s a service that everybody who goes to would sooner not be at. They go with a lot of mixed emotions, but the folk at St Mary’s make it feel as if you are going into someone’s home. We thank them for the warmth of their welcome.”