Posted on Wednesday 2nd January 2019
Staffordshire winners of the British Empire Medal
Seven Staffordshire residents have been awarded the prestigious British Empire Medal for their invaluable contributions to their local communities.
The winners were announced in The Queen’s Birthday Honours earlier this year and attended a special ceremony hosted by the Chairman of Staffordshire County Council at County Buildings in Stafford on Thursday 20th December 2018. Medals were presented to the winners by the Lord-Lieutenant, Mr Ian Dudson CBE KStJ on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, watched by their family and friends.
The recipients were as follows:
- Mrs Margaret Hassall – For services to the community of Stafford
- Mrs Ada Haywood – For services to Cancer UK
- Mrs Dorothy Kay – For services to the community of Dane Valley, Cheshire
- Mr Neil Phillips – For Services to Emergency Care
- Mrs Anne Cherriman – For services to Charity and the community in Stafford
- Mr Anthony Ebbutt – For services to charity and the community in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire
- Mr Michael Burke – For services to children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
Michael Greatorex, Chairman of Staffordshire County Council said:
“It was a great privilege for me to host this presentation and honour another 7 people from Staffordshire who have done so much for our communities. They have all made invaluable contributions in their services and it is a pleasure to see them receive such prestigious recognition from Her Majesty for their hard work given over many years.”
Ian Dudson, Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire added:
“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 7 local people have been recognised in the Birthday honours list with this award, for their wonderful contributions within Staffordshire and I am privileged to have presented their Medals on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen.”
Margaret Hassall said:
“I have lived in Staffordshire for fifty years, during which time I have devoted my life to my family, to music and to the community. It has been a great joy to have conducted and accompanied choirs, giving concerts and playing the organ for the local Parish Church.
I have also enjoyed serving on many committees, done fund raising for many organisations and begun groups of my own, helping people who live alone. I am grateful to all those who have helped me over the years with my various ventures and I am honoured to receive this award.”
Mr Anthony Ebbutt said:
“I am extremely honoured and humbled to be receiving this award and would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people who have contributed their time to aid me in raising money for the charities I have supported.
Without them none of this would have ever been possible. I would also like to thank my employers DHL for their years of support.”
Mrs Ada Haywood said:
“I was surprised and delighted to have received this Honour. Who would have thought 30 years ago, when I started shaking a bucket, it would come to this? My late husband Peter and I, loved volunteering for this worthy cause, sadly it was cancer that took Peter away from me.
“He wanted me to carry on fundraising, which I intend to do. We must find a cure for cancer! I would like to thank our family and friends and the networking groups I attend, they are amazing! We are lucky to have met such lovely people on the way.”
Mrs Anne Cherriman said:
“I am extremely honoured and humbled to receive such a wonderful award. I would like to thank all those who have helped me over many, many years in raising not just money but giving their time and making a real difference to people’s lives. Thank you.”
Mr Michael Burke said:
“It is a great privilege and honour to be awarded a British Empire Medal for my work as a peripatetic teacher of children with Autism in the Staffordshire region. In accepting this award I would like to express my thanks to my family, work colleagues and the families of the children I have supported.
“I hope that this award will raise the profile of the work of the Staffordshire Autism Outreach Team and that youngsters, and their families continue to receive the support they need and deserve.”
People can find out more about the awards on the Directgov website.