New Year Honours: Unsung Shropshire and Mid Wales heroes are recognised
Heroes of towns and villages from across Shropshire and Mid Wales were today recognised in the New Year’s Honours List.
Joining celebrities, sports stars and politicians, the Queen has honoured people who make a real difference to our county. They include youth leaders, charity volunteers and medical volunteers.
Marion Wynn of Fair Oak, Newport, is made an OBE for her 50 years’ service to the Guides. Janet Woodroffe, a stalwart of the Guides movement in Craven Arms, is also recognised for her work for charitable and voluntary services.
Dave Williams, from Shrewsbury, receives the British Empire Medal for his 40 years service with the British Red Cross, which has seen him teach first aid to thousands of people.
Marion Wynn, 66, was given the honour ‘for services to girl-guiding in the UK and abroad’.
She has served as county commissioner for Shropshire, as well as deputy chief commissioner for the wider Midland region.
Mrs Wynn said she had found it hard to keep her nomination secret after being informed she would be included in the list in November.
She had no idea who had nominated her, but believed the honour probably related to her work in setting up an international database which brings Guides across the world together.
In addition to her work with the Guides, Mrs Wynn is also a volunteer with Cosy Hall community centre in Newport, as well as the Newport Play Barn.
She paid tribute to her husband Martin, who she said had enabled her devote her life to voluntary work, and to her grown-up daughters Emily and Fiona for their patience with her spending so much time working with the guides.
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Mrs Wynn joined the Brownies as a seven-year-old in 1958, and became a volunteer leader nine years later.
“I’m just sorry that those who inspired me, the Brownie leaders and Guide leaders, and my mother, are not here to see me accept this award,” she said.
“I have had so much fun and made so many friends along the way, and it has given me so much confidence.
“I was a shy child, and guiding gave me somewhere I could succeed outside school, where I didn’t quite so much.”
Mrs Wynn was given the honour “for services to girl-guiding in the UK and abroad”.
She has served as county commissioner for Shropshire, as well as deputy chief commissioner for the wider Midland region.
In addition to her work with the Guides, Mrs Wynn is also a volunteer with Cosy Hall community centre in Newport, as well as the Newport Play Barn.
She paid tribute to her husband Martin, who she said had enabled her devote her life to voluntary work, and to her grown-up daughters Emily and Fiona for their patience with her spending so much time working with the guides.
Janet Woodroffe, 72, who has also been involved with the Guides for more than half a century, said she could not believe her eyes when she heard the news, adding: “When the letter came, marked private and confidential, my first thought was ‘what have I done?’.”
The retired accountant had been a member of Craven Arms Guide company since the 1950s, and started volunteering for the organisation in 1961 after completing her Queen’s Guide Award. She is also churchwarden and treasurer at Holy Trinity Church in Wistanstow, and serves on the Hereford Diocesan Board of Finance.
“I suggested a whist drive and the following week I was asked to run it,” he said. “That was in 1977 and I’ve been volunteering ever since.”
Mrs Woodroffe said she was amazed to find she had been nominated.
She was just 16 years old when she started volunteering for the organisation in 1961.
“I suppose I had enjoyed being in the Guides so much, I felt I wanted to give something back,” she said.
“When I looked back on a lot of the things I had done, I got my firefighters’ badge – in those days you could go to a fire station and see behind the scenes – I did first aid, and it gave me a general background in a lot of things.
“My father also said ‘You have got so much from the Guides, you ought to do something for them’.”
Arwyn Watkins, of Welshpool, was also created an OBE for services to education and training in Wales.
He said: “It’s a huge honour and I would like to think that it recognises the important contribution that the independent training sector makes to the daily lives of people living and working in Wales.
“It is also recognition for Cambrian Training Company, which I joined nearly 20 years ago and my family. I couldn’t do the range of work that I do without their full support.”
James Boyle, head of infrastructure and architecture at HM Revenue and Customs in Telford, was appointed an OBE for services to taxpayers and government modernisation.
Dave Williams, a British Red Cross volunteer from Westbury, Shrewsbury, is awarded the British Empire Medal. Mr Williams joked he only became involved with the Red Cross after his wife Rosemary asked him for help to raise funds.
The 71-year-old, who began volunteering with the charity in 1977, has taught first aid to thousands of young people and adults across the region.
He said over the years he had taught first aid to people of all ages and from all walks of life.
“The biggest thrill is seeing people I have trained go on to become nurses, paramedics and physiotherapists. Just knowing that people can use their skills to help others in crisis is very rewarding. I would encourage everyone to learn first aid – you never know when members of your family, friends or neighbours may need your help.”
Mike Adamson, chief executive of the British Red Cross, said: “‘He has devoted his life to first aid and passing on his knowledge to others. Dave has been a source of inspiration to his fellow volunteers and staff across Shrewsbury and beyond.”
Dr John Wood, who lives in Craven Arms, becomes an MBE for his services to general medical practice, while Margaret Veal of Bridgnorth is also appointed an MBE for services to the community.
There were BEMs for Judith Haycocks, a healthcare assistant at Whitchurch Community Hospital, for services to the care of the elderly, and Colin Holloway of Shrewsbury, for voluntary services to young people.
Also receiving BEMs are Elvet Richards, of Marton, for services to the community of Trelystan in Powys, and Elizabeth Lawrence, of Oswestry, for services to the community of Morton.
Shirt tycoon’s OBE for retail services
Shropshire-born shirt tycoon Nick Wheeler has been appointed an OBE for services to the retail industry.
And it was a double celebration for the 52-year-old, who was born and raised near Shrewsbury, as his wife Chrissie Rucker was appointed an MBE too.
Mr Wheeler, who was born and raised near Ludlow, is the founder of the Charles Tyrwhitt mail-order menswear company.
The 52-year-old started his company in 1986, when he was still studying at Bristol University, and it has grown to become the UK’s largest mail order supplier of shirts.
Miss Rucker, who was also honoured for services to retail, is the founder of The White Company, another mail-order retailer.
For many years the couple lived at Dallicote Hall in Worfield, near Bridgnorth, before moving away in 2007. Earlier this year Mr Wheeler returned to his home county to open Wrekin College’s business school at Wellington.
Writer’s 40-year career rewarded
The creator of the movie Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, who lives on the Welsh border, has been made an OBE for her contribution to literature and drama.
Deborah Moggach, who lives in Presteigne, receives the honour in recognition of a career as a novelist and scriptwriter spanning 40 years.
Her debut novel You Must Be Sisters was published in 1978, and she went on to write a further 17 books.
She made her television screenwriting debut in 1986, adapting her novel To Have and To Hold for a prime-time mini series of the same name, which tackled the thorny issue of a surrogate motherhood.
She is best known, though, for the adaptation of her own novel, These Foolish Things, into the hit movie Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
Mrs Moggach also wrote the television adaptations of The Diary of Anne Frank and Nancy Mitford’s Love in a Cold Climate.
Her script of the film Pride and Prejudice, starring Keira Knightley, was nominated for a Bafta award.
The 69-year-old lives in Presteigne with her second husband journalist and publisher Mark Williams.
Adult learning pioneer’s delight
A professor at Wolverhampton University has been given a knighthood for his four decades of pioneering work in the field of adult learning.
Alan Tuckett, described by his colleagues as “the voice of adult education”, was awarded a knighthood for services to education, particularly in respect of his work with adult learning.
In 1992 he founded Adult Learners’ Week – now known as the Festival of Learning – which has become the UK’s biggest celebration of adult learning.
It is now held annually in 55 countries across the globe, and led to him being appointed an OBE in 1995.
He is also an advisor to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) on adult and lifelong learning, influencing international policy. In 2016, he was awarded the distinction of Unesco Institute for Lifelong Learning Honorary Fellow.
Prof Tuckett said: “I am humbled by the award, and delighted that the importance of adult learning to an enlightened democracy has been recognised in this way.”
Ambulance chief honoured
The Queen's Ambulance Service Medal is being awarded to Diane Scott, the deputy chief executive of West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.
She is one of only two recipients of the Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal (QAM) based in England.
Diane is an Executive Director of the Trust Board and is responsible for the corporate and clinical directorates. She is also a Health and Care Professions Council registered paramedic.
Speaking about her award, Diane, whose career spans more than 30 years having started with Hampshire Ambulance Service in 1985, said: “I am immensely proud and honoured to receive this award. It is a great privilege and the QAM represents the pinnacle of my ambulance career.
“I have been proud to work for, and with, many good people at all levels throughout the ambulance service and the NHS, including many skilled and compassionate colleagues who provide excellent care on a daily basis to patients and the public.
“Whilst I have been fortunate to receive the award, it would not have happened without the hard work and support of my colleagues from within the ambulance service to whom I am extremely grateful.”
Medals and awards presented in region
SHROPSHIRE
Officer of British Empire (OBE)
James Gerard Boyle, of Telford. Head of Infrastructure Architecture, Telford, HM Revenue and Customs. For services to taxpayers and government modernisation.
Mrs Marion Wynn, of Newport. For services to girlguiding in the UK and abroad.
Member of the British Empire (MBE)
Mrs Frances Margaret Veal, of Bridgnorth. For services to the community in Bridgnorth.
Dr John Albert Wood, of Craven Arms, general practitioner, St Elizabeths Medical Centre. For services to general practice in Leicester.
Mrs Janet Sarah Woodroffe, of Wistanstow. For voluntary and charitable services.
British Empire Medal (BEM)
Colin Russell Case. For voluntary and charitable services to the community in Ruyton XI Towns.
Mrs Judith Haycocks, of Whitchurch. Healthcare assistant, Whitchurch Community Hospital, Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust. For services to care of older people.
Colin Brendan Holloway, of Shrewsbury. Field force collector debt management, HM Revenue and Customs. For voluntary services to Young People.
Mrs Elizabeth June Lawrence, of Oswestry. For services to the community in Morton, Shropshire.
Elvet Owen Richards, from Marton. For services to the community in Trelystan, Powys.
David John Williams, of Shrewsbury. First aid volunteer and trainer at the Shrewsbury branch of the British Red Cross. Awarded for voluntary service to first aid.
WALES
OBE
Ms Deborah Moggach, of Powys. For services to Literature and Drama.
David Arwyn Watkins, from Welshpool. Managing director Cambrian Training Company. For his services to education and training in Wales.
MBE
DC Timothy John Bird. North Wales Police. For services to policing and community in North Wales.
BEM
Mrs Jenny Griffiths, of Llay. For services to Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
