MBEs & British Empire Medals For Our Region

14 June 2014, 08:10 | Updated: 14 June 2014, 08:18

Eleven people from Norfolk and Suffolk have been awarded a range of gongs in the Queen's birthday honours for 2014.

47 year-old Neil Smith from Woodbridge

Awarded MBE: Charitable services

He is a keen cyclist and founder member of Bobby on a Bike and has worked tirelessly for the past 10 years organising charitable bike rides both at home and abroad. These rides have included trips from Canada to Mexico, USA and UK annual rides attracting over 80 participants taking place over four days. To date, a wide range of UK charities including Help for Heroes, RNLI, Service Families Association, a local hospice and Cancer Research have benefited by receiving in excess of £120,000. He was recognised for his fundraising work by being chosen to be a torch bearer during the Olympic torch relay in 2012 and his work continues with an entry to the Race across America planned for 2014.

In 2008 the team cycled 4,295 miles in 26 days across the Trans America route of the USA,. In 2011 the team cycled from Aldeburgh in Suffolk through the Cotswolds, Wye Valley and finish on the Welsh Coast. He is about to attempt to complete the world's longest non-stop canoe marathon 125 miles, 77 portages, one race non-stop. He is now establishing a charity 'It's not just Mondays' which is set up to provide free support and counselling to all staff working within the police organisation.

66 year-old Joanna Spicer DL from Bury St Edmunds

Awarded MBE: For public service to the community in Suffolk

For 25 years she has served the community in Suffolk through holding senior posts in both paid and voluntary positions. Since 1989 she has been a member of Suffolk County Council and was Chair. She was also Vice-Chair of the Caring and Protection Overview Scrutiny Committee. Since 1994 she has been a member of Suffolk Police Authority and was Chair.  She delivered the sixth consecutive year of reduction in recorded crime, the lowest in a decade. 

In 2009 she helped to introduce No Cold Calling Zones set up to protect elderly and vulnerable people from burglars and rogue traders. She has worked very hard at the national level to represent police authorities and public interests as a member of the Local Government Association's Safer Communities Board. Between 1998 and 2000 she helped to produce the publicity for the St Edmundsbury Cathedral Appeal which saw over £5m raised over a ten year period. Since 1999 she has been a member of the St John Ambulance and Chair since 2011.

72 year-old Anne Chapman from Diss

Awarded British Empire Medal for: Fundraiser, Cancer Research UK.  For charitable services in Norfolk

She has been fundraising for Cancer Research UK via her annual Ladies' Pink Tractor Run since 2003 and during that time she has raised over £335,000 for the life-saving work of Cancer Research UK. Her Tractor Run has grown from an event which raised £16,500 from 50 participants in its first year to one which recruited 130 ladies and raised in excess of £48,000 in 2012. The annual Ladies' Pink Tractor Run has become a firm fixture in the calendar for Harleston and the surrounding Suffolk countryside.

In 2008 she was honoured by Cancer Research UK with the presentation of their Volunteer of the Year award. In 2011 she was listed among the top 100 people in the Independent Newspaper's list of People who make the World a Happier Place. In 2012 she carried the Olympic Torch in Aldeburgh on behalf of Cancer Research UK and all her pink ladies and she has been presented with South Norfolk Council's Queen's Diamond Jubilee Community Award as winner of the Community Fundraiser section.

35 year-old Jane Hannah from Norwich

Awarded British Empire Medal for:  National Volunteer Manager, England and Wales Cricket Board.  For services to Cricket Administration
She has excelled in the support and management of volunteers at national and local level and led the Volunteers programme during the International Cricket Council (ICC) 2013 Champions Trophy in England and Wales.  Her role culminated in over 80,000 volunteers being registered with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) most of whom participated in the Nat West Cricket Force day in April 2013.

Cricket Force organises the local community and local business to attend community cricket clubs over a weekend to build new pavilions, practice facilities, clear grounds and extend social facilities.  It is estimated that the value of this project in 2013 alone was in excess of £30m to community cricket.  The success of the ICC Champions Trophy 2013, the most viewed single sports event ever held in the UK, could not have been achieved without the support of volunteers and her leadership of this group. 

She was the founder of the Outstanding Services to Cricket Awards Ceremony which is held annually at Lord's Cricket Ground for 500 of the leading volunteers in England and Wales. Her pioneering work was recognised in 2011 when the ECB was presented with Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee Award for Volunteering. Voluntary and Charitable Services.

61 year-old Ian Langdon from Woodbridge

Awarded British Empire Medal for: For services to the community in Grundisburgh, Suffolk

He began his public service in 1980 when he co-founded the Grundisburgh Amateur Dramatic Society, which is still flourishing today. He was also the Chairman of Friends of Grundisburgh School, where he was instrumental in supporting the school when it moved from its old Victorian building to a brand new modern site. He has applied his interest in horticulture by joining the Grundisburgh, Burgh and Culpho horticulture society as treasurer.

Thanks to his hard work and fund raising efforts the society enjoys healthy funds, which ultimately benefits the community. In addition to his community volunteering he still finds the time to organise the distribution of the Grundisburgh News, which circulates some 3000 copies to no less than 17 villages. As parish councillor, he has performed seasonal service for 8 years and more recently he became a member of the New Village Hall committee. He is also a volunteer cleaner at St Mary's church as well as a trustee of Gurden Trust.

61 year-old Sandra Waspe from Stowmarket

Awarded British Empire Medal for: For services to the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association in East Anglia

For over 44 years she has served as a volunteer for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association of East Anglia. Since the late 1960s she has been involved with fundraising for both the Bury St Edmund's Branch and the East and mid-Suffolk Branch. In 2009 she set up the Stowmarket and District Branch where she holds the position of Treasurer and was responsible for raising £10,000 in the first year.

She works tirelessly, attending functions at the weekends and during the week to raise both awareness of the charity and funds. She goes to many varied venues to give talks about the charities' work. This includes speaking to groups, schools, street, supermarket, store and railway collections, sales of giftware and tombola, donations through collecting tins and sponsorship of the training of new puppies. She also sees her role as giving education and information to people, encouraging them to sponsor a puppy and for young people to get involved.

Others honoured in region include:

Alan Wilkinson gets and MBE for services to music and charitable services in Kings Lynn, Norfolk
 
Brenda Ford is awarded a British Empire Medal for services to the community in Wymondham

David Smith from Ipswich gets an MBE for services to Building Control and voluntary service in Suffolk

Edward Alcock from Stowmarket is awarded an OBE for public and voluntary service in Suffolk

Elizabeth Baskerville from Great Barton is the Regional chairman Conservative Party and gets an MBE for voluntary political service

Hilary Hatcher from Woodbridge is awarded the British Empire Medal for services to Breast Cancer Research and Education. Hillary is the founder member and a fundraiser for Suffolk Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

John Barton from Newmarket gets an OBE. John's the General secretary Retained Firefighters Union and is recognised for services to Fire and Rescue Services.

Michael Spurr from Norwich honoured with CB. Michael's the Director general and chief executive Officer National Offender Management Service and is given his gong for services to Offender Management.
 
Samuel Sheppard is awarded a CBE for for services to the Horse Breeding Industry and the Rural Economy in Suffolk