We caught up with Philip Leason and Sinead Butters from Stone who both ended 2015 with some fantastic news – an MBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours.
The letter from the Cabinet Office dropped through their letterboxes in Stone in late November, and Philip and Sinead both had to keep the news top secret for over a month. So they both gasped a sigh of relief when the news was officially revealed on New Year’s Eve!
Philip – whose MBE is for services to Royal Mail and the local community – said: “It was difficult. Apart from telling my wife Edith, I couldn’t tell another soul. I don’t get to see my brother very often but we got together at Christmas and it was really hard not being able to tell him.”
Sinead – for services to housing – added: “The very official-looking letter in November came with ‘Urgent and personal – from the Cabinet Office’ on the front. My first thought was that I’d done something wrong and was in trouble!”
Philip will be in India in February, his third trip to the country with Rotary International to assist with a national polio immunisation programme. Last year, he received the Paul Harris Fellowship for his work in this area. He’s a founder member of Stone Historical Society and has been chairman for many years, writing articles for the Stone Gazette and for A Little Bit of Stone.
He was heavily involved in the return to Stone of the Medieval Priory seal that was discovered by a metal dectectorist in a field in Surrey, with the historical society leading a fundraising campaign. In 2014, Philip helped to write and publish a book on Stone during the First World War to mark the centenary of the start of the Great War.
He’s been a magistrate for almost three decades and a respected borough and town councillor, serving as Stone town mayor twice. And he’s an active member of St Michael’s Church. His MBE for services to the Stone community is richly deserved.
“I’ve lived in Stone all my life,” Philip said, “and I’ve always wanted to give something back to the community.”
But his honour is also for services to Royal Mail. Philip has worked at Royal Mail in Stoke-on-Trent for the last 14 years as a customer service advisor.
[box type=”shadow” ]He said: “You go to work, think you do a good job, but my employers say I go out of my way to help customers and improve the image of Royal Mail. It’s humbling to think that your employer has put you forward for this award, as well as people in the Stone community.”[/box]
How on earth does Philip find the time for everything?
“I wonder myself, sometimes!” he said.
Sinead is the chief executive of the Aspire Group and has been honoured for her services to housing.
As well as Aspire housing association, the group has an apprenticeship training company and the Furniture Mine, Staffordshire’s leading furniture re-use charity.
For Sinead, the desire to help people and – like Philip – to “give something back” is a huge driver.
[box type=”shadow” ]She said: “It’s much more than the physical buildings, the houses we provide. It’s about working with people, building their confidence, getting them ready for work. This is how you help people out of poverty. We have five dedicated staff who work with tenants to achieve this.”[/box]
The group’s apprenticeship division, PM Training, has got hundreds of people into permanent employment and is now the biggest apprenticeship company in Staffordshire.
This year will see Sinead’s 10th anniversary of being Aspire Group chief executive – her “dream job” as she calls it. Originally from Coven in South Staffordshire, she’s lived in Stone since 1995 and clearly loves it here. “It’s like being on holiday, living in Stone!” she said.
Both Sinead and Philip have been overwhelmed by the support and best wishes they’ve received since news of their MBE went public. “It’s been a whirlwind,” Sinead said.
They’ll both be making their way to Buckingham Palace later this year with their families to receive their awards.
Huge congratulations to them both from A Little Bit of Stone.
