British Empire Medals awarded to Staffordshire residents

Fifteen Staffordshire residents have been given personal Honours by Her Majesty the Queen for their contributions to their local communities.

The winners were announced in The Queen’s Birthday and New Year Honours lists over the last two years. Recipients attended special ceremonies on 15, 19 and 28 October at County Buildings in Stafford, hosted by Councillor Paul Snape, Chairman of Staffordshire County Council.

Medals were presented to the winners by the Lord-Lieutenant, Mr Ian Dudson CBE KStJ on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen.

The recipients were as follows:

Mr Peter Jackson BEM for services to the community of Tamworth
Mr David George Robins BEM for services to the veterans of North Staffordshire.
Mrs Molly Henriques-Dillon BEM for services to nursing during COVID-19.
Mr James Reid BEM for services to community, safety and cohesion.
Mrs Patricia Geraghty BEM for pharmacy services in Leek during COVID-19.
Ms Susan Josephine Sheppard BEM for services to the environment.
Mrs Carole Kind BEM for services to the community of Stoke on Trent during COVID-19.
Mrs David Moreton BEM for services to people with learning disabilities in Staffordshire
Mr Joseph Luke Trusselle BEM for services to neighbourhood policing.
Mrs Yvonne Clarke MBE for services to innovation and the community in North West England.
Mrs Hazel Lillian Nelson BEM for services to nursing and the community in Staffordshire.
Ms Anne Elizabeth Ward BEM for services to the community of Burton on Trent during COVID-19.
Mrs Jennifer Ann Dunn BEM for services to the community of Cannock.
Mr Michael John Deakin BEM for services to scouting and charity in Staffordshire.
Mrs Gladys Mary Turnbull BEM for services to sport and the community.

Ian Dudson, Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire said: “The British Empire Medal is now fully re-established as a significant part of our Honours system, often uniquely recognising voluntary contributions at a very local community level. I am delighted that we have been able to organise the investitures for those receiving the award. Their wonderful contributions have been recognised accordingly and I am privileged to have presented their Medals on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen.”

Chairman of Staffordshire County Council, Mr Paul Snape added: “It was a great privilege for me to host these presentations and honour these fantastic people, who have done so much for our communities. They have all made invaluable contributions in their services and it was a great pleasure to see them receive such prestigious recognition from Her Majesty for their hard work given over many years.”

Some of the winners share their comments below:

Mrs Carole Kind, BEM, said: “I was both surprised and delighted to be awarded the BEM. I regard it as recognition for the hard work by myself and the staff at The Hub Fenton. It’s an absolute privilege to have been honoured at a national level.”

Hazel Nelson, BEM, added: “I am truly honoured, humbled and very proud to receive this award for something I love doing every day. In the words of Florence Nightingale “Let us never consider ourselves finished nurses, we must be learning all our lives.”

Jenny Dunn, BEM, said: “The BEM medal showed me how I helped people through my charity and community events. I’d like to say a big `Thank You’ to my team for all their years of support, help and hard work.”

Front row – Vice Lord-Lieutenant, Carole Kind, Sue Sheppard, David Moreton, Joseph Trusselle, Lord-Lieutenant. Second row, centre: Chairman of SCC flanked by High Sheriff Mr Jamie Friend and his wife Sanda. Joined by other guests and Dignitaries.

Sue Sheppard, BEM, said: “Following in the footsteps of the late Roger Hill, former County Ecologist and my mentor, who made the protection of Cannock Chase his mission, my role was always more than a job to me. Places like Cannock Chase are precious and special – worthy of safeguarding for our future generations.

“I feel honoured to be receiving this award for services to the environment and only wish Roger could have still been with us to see our efforts so rewarded. I would like to recognise Roger because of his dedication to nature conservation in Staffordshire during his time with Staffordshire County Council. Roger retired many years ago but he was my friend and mentor and I learned so much from him about Staffordshire’s wildlife habitats and the Chase in particular. A quiet but unassuming yet determined man, Roger in my opinion was worthy of similar recognition and in this statement, I hope to honour his memory too.”

Patricia Geraghty, BEM, said: “I feel very proud to receive this award honoured by the Queen because it reflects the challenges we overcome within pharmacy in Staffordshire. Recognising that pharmacy doors have remained open throughout the pandemic.”

Anne Ward, BEM, said: “Knowing that there are so many other good people making their own contributions to the Local Community, I feel humbled to be awarded the British Empire Medal.

“I was fortunate to enjoy a long and rewarding career as a Midwife and outside of work, it was a privilege to serve as a Foundation Governor at Blessed Robert Sutton Academy and to be actively involved with the Life Charity. I have worked with some inspirational people in many voluntary roles and I am grateful for all your support.”

James Reid, BEM, said: “It is an absolute honour to receive this award.”

Mr Joseph Trusselle, BEM, said: “It’s an absolute privilege to have been honoured at a national level.”

Yvonne Clarke, MBE, said: “I would like to say a special thank you to my family. When I established Pathways CIC, my vision was to maximise the difference I could make to the communities I serve. I wanted to empower people to live happier, healthier lives. I have always been so humbled by the personal life journeys our clients make, to bring about the changes in their lives, that matter to them. I am so privileged to work with my amazing team. Accordingly, I was so delighted and couldn’t really contain my joy when I learnt that I had gained an MBE for my commitment to business and community.”

For further details on the awards visit www.gov.uk/honours/overview or www.gov.uk/queens-award-for-voluntary-service/overview

(Main image Lord-Lieutenant, Jennifer Dunn, Anne Ward, Michael Deakin, Hazel Nelson, Yvonne Clarke, Gladys Turnbull, Vice Lord-Lieutenant.)