Presentation of Honours Awards May 2015
At a lunchtime ceremony, held on Tuesday 5 May at Bowcliffe Hall’s new conference and events centre, the Blackburn Wing, the Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Dr Ingrid Roscoe, presented honours awards to deserving members of the public.
The awards were announced in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List and included five members of the public from the county, who received the British Empire Medal.
Honours award recipients (l-r) John Vogler, Janet Inglis, Brenda Swithenbank, Jenny Hirst and Clive Cowell
The British Empire Medal (BEM) rewards a sustained, local contribution or innovative, high-impact work in the community. The recipients were (in alphabetical order):
- Clive Cowell, who has served the mining community of Allerton Bywater for over 27 years in various roles;
- Jenny Hirst, who set up the charity Calderdale Help in Bereavement Services and for her work supporting bereaved children;
- Janet Inglis, who, as a teacher at Bradford’s Immanuel College, brought in many innovations to help the school move from special measures to become one of the region’s most improved academic institutions;
- Brenda Swithenbank; who has been a long-serving member of her community in Tingley, both as a leader in the Guides association and for her work at Tingley Methodist Church;
- John Vogler, whose voluntary work with the Friends of Roundhay Park has improved both the appearance and access to the park.
At the awards ceremony, the Lord-Lieutenant congratulated the recipients and said that the British Empire Medal was presented to recognise those that had given “outstanding service in their local communities”.
“The people who will receive their British Empire Medals today are a credit to their communities and to the organisations they represent,” said Dr Roscoe. “Their determination and their sheer hard work is an example to us all.
“Members of the public nominated the people here today and these nominations are subject to a rigorous process before an award is given. I have read all the citations myself and I was considerably moved by what I read and by the selfless commitment that you have shown to the benefit of others. Congratulations to you all.”
Official photography of the awards can be viewed in the Lieutenancy Events gallery section.