The Queen of the Netherlands has had to give permission for a specially-arranged ‘race against time’ ceremony to be held in Bradford to honour one of her countrymen.

Queen Beatrix had awarded the decoration ‘Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau’ to Doctor Ron Hoekstra (right) for his services to the Dutch Red Cross Rotary and his work with charities dealing with social exclusion.

But the honour had to be presented before midnight today or it would not have been valid.

And as Dr Hoekstra, along with 26 of his Dutch Rotarians and their partners, was in the district visiting friends in the Rotary Club of Bradford Blaize it was arranged for the ceremony to take place here, with permission both from Queen Beatrix and the Dutch ambassador to the United Kingdom.

The Dutch decoration is an order of chivalry open to men and women who deserve appreciation and recognition for good work they have done for their society.

The order is comparable to the Order of the British Empire in the United Kingdom. The order was bestowed upon him by the Mayor of Vlaardingen, Hans Versluijs.

Alan Arthur, a member of the Rotary Club of Bradford Blaize, attended the ceremony, held at the Hollins Hall Hotel, Baildon.

He said: “I was very pleased and honoured to be allowed with other members to be present at the ceremony at which our Dutch colleague received his decoration from Queen Beatrix.

“The event was held in one of the reception rooms of the Hollis Hall Hotel with the pomp restricted to the Mayor of Vlaardingen wearing his chain of office.

“It was a very moving occasion to see someone who I know so well receive due recognition for the good work he has done and to see the joy reflected in the face of his wife.

“The Mayor of Vlaardingen conducted the presentation in Dutch but with a running translation in English so that we all felt very much a part of it.”

The Rotary Club of Bradford Blaize was formed in September 1981 at a similar time to the formation of the Rotary Club of Vlaardingen 80 (VL80).

The two clubs decided to form a twinning arrangement and since that time there have been regular visits between the two clubs with the English club visiting Holland approximately every three years and the Dutch club visiting Yorkshire every three years.

As with our own Queen Elizabeth, the Dutch Queen awards honours are held on her official birthday. This year is the last year she will award honours as her son will succeed her to become King William on April 30.