Torque Events duo receiving military charity’s highest award

15 July 2024

Benn Laidler MBE and Steve Shaw MA, FCILT, CMCIPD of Torque Events have been awarded the Sir James Gildea Global Award by SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.

SSAFA’s Sir James Gildea Awards were created to recognise the staff – voluntary and paid – for their exceptional contributions and commitment to SSAFA’s activities and values. The awards were presented at SSAFA’s Annual Members’ Meeting in London at the Victory Services Club on 11 July, by His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, SSAFA’s President.

Both men have spent decades in the British Armed Forces. Benn served 23 years in the Army Air Corps and was deployed in conflict zones around the world from Bosnia to Afghanistan to Iraq. Steve spent more than 40 years in the Royal Navy, serving in operations in the Gulf War and the Falklands.

Benn and his family live in Somerset, while Steve and his family live in Hampshire. In 2022 the two joined forces to create Torque Events to create and provide unforgettable experiences through driving tours around the UK and Europe. They have fundraised for military charities since 2010, and first approached SSAFA in 2014.

Speaking about their fundraising and partnering with SSAFA, Benn said: “To date we have raised over £750,000 for military charities. We first approached SSAFA in 2014 and were so impressed with their wide range of work across the breadth of the Armed Forces community. SSAFA have been a fully supportive partner over the last 10 years.”

The two men are now gearing up for the 2024 edition of their flagship event, A Driving Force for SSAFA. The event involves one hundred people in fifty vehicles, including participants and support vehicles, on an exhilarating 10-day journey across scenic European routes. This year’s route will cover the Iberian Peninsula and Gibraltar from 30 July to 9 August 2024, with the aim of raising £120,000 for SSAFA.

Benn and Steve have done a remarkable job raising funds for SSAFA, while simultaneously providing hundreds of people with an unforgettable experience cruising through the UK and Europe’s most scenic spots in classic and modern cars. All at SSAFA send Benn and Steve their heartfelt congratulations on receiving the Sir James Gildea Global Partner Award.