Presentation of Honours Awards
At a lunchtime ceremony, held on Tuesday 29 April at Bowcliffe Hall, the Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Dr Ingrid Roscoe, presented honours awards to deserving members of the public.
The awards included seven British Empire Medals and an MBE.
The MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) was presented to former local councillor, school governor and supporter of the arts Peter Sparling. The prestigious award is conferred on those people who have made a significant achievement in or contributed an outstanding service to the community.
Peter Sparling has been a major influence in the development of what is now known as The Grammar School at Leeds. He was a governor of the former Leeds Grammar School for 30 years and chairman for 17 years of that period, leading the merger of the School with the former Leeds Girls High School. As well as being a supporter of the arts, Peter was also a Leeds City Councillor for 19 years and was Leader of the Council.
The British Empire Medal (BEM) rewards a sustained, local contribution or innovative, high-impact work in the community and, on the day, the Lord-Lieutenant presented the award to seven people from the region.
The recipients of the British Empire Medal were:
- Christine Bampton-Smith for over 30 years community work as both a parish and regional councillor in Hebden Royd;
- George Beardsall for his work with young people and the wider community for over 40 years in Marsden;
- Pamela Clarkson who for 53 years has been an active fundraiser and co-ordinate for good causes in the three communities of Morley, Castleford and Rothwell – Pamela was unable to attend the ceremony and the BEM was collected by her daughter, Dawn Cockerham;
- Gwendoline Gallear has devoted 30 years helping raise funds for disabled and sick children and is a regular visitor to the Pinderfield Hospital School near Wakefield;
- Kim Milner for spending much of her voluntary time working for the Active Life Group for Over 50s in Pudsey;
- Marilyn Waterman co-founded the Earlswood Community Group in Wyke, Bradford, eight years ago to create opportunities for elderly residents to meet and socialise;
- David Wilkins has provided selfless and inspirational work for young people in Scouting for 46 years in Huddersfield and has also been a long-serving member of the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team.
The Lord-Lieutenant spoke of her delight at being able to welcome and present the honours to all eight award-winners, who she described as being “extraordinary people”.
“You have all made a huge impact on your communities by improving the lives of so many people whether it be creating a youth club, providing Christmas lunches and seaside visits for the elderly, running fitness classes for young and old, encouraging generations of young scouts, raising funds for the sick and disabled, creating opportunities for the lonely to socialise or making a lifelong contribution to education and the arts,” said Dr Roscoe.
“Last year there were 293 medals awarded throughout the UK, so for West Yorkshire to receive eight of these is marvellous and I am so proud of that,” she added.
Official photography of the awards can be viewed in the Lieutenancy Events gallery section.