A volunteer from Stone has been awarded the prestigious British Empire Medal for her invaluable contribution to volunteering in her local community.
The recipients were announced in The Queen’s New Year’s Honours this year and attended a special ceremony hosted by the Vice-Chairman of Staffordshire County Council at the County Buildings in Stafford on Thursday 30th April. Medals were presented by the Lord-Lieutenant, Ian Dudson CBE CStJ, on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, watched by their family and friends.
Patricia Gates from Stone received the medal for Services to Policing. She said: “I am pleased and proud to be recognised by the award of the BEM. I see it as recognition for all my colleagues in the Police and NARPO (National Association of Retired Police Officers), who work tirelessly for the good of others.”
There were three other recipients – Ashley Hall from Netherstowe was awarded her BEM for Services to Education, David George Watton from Elford, Tamworth, for Services to Conservation and Michael Kidson Swales from Alton also received the award for volunteering services with communities in Tristan-da-Cunha, a remote island in the South Atlantic Ocean.
Ian Dudson, Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire, said: “These four people have made very significant contributions to their communities, and I am delighted to be presenting their British Empire Medals at this Investiture in County Buildings. This recognition is unexpected, but very much deserved by each individual and I congratulate and thank them on behalf of us all in Staffordshire.”
Vice-Chairman Janet Eagland said: “It was a great privilege to host this presentation to honour people who do so much for our communities. These men and women have made invaluable contributions in their services, and it is a pleasure to have taken part in seeing them receive such prestigious recognition for their work from Her Majesty.”
