Honours presentation at Lancaster Castle
The historic and majestic surroundings of Lancaster Castle will host a prestigious Honours ceremony on Friday 25 September.
Recipients from Lancashire will receive a BEM (Medallist of the Order of the British Empire). The BEM rewards an achievement or contribution of a very 'hands-on' service to the community in a local geographical area.
Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire, The Lord Shuttleworth KCVO, will make the presentations, which were announced in The Queen's Birthday Honours List.
The Investiture will be carried out in the stunning Shire Hall by Lord Shuttleworth, who is Her Majesty's representative in the County.
Lord Shuttleworth said: "I am delighted once more to have the privilege of presenting BEMs to Lancashire people on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen in the historic setting of Lancaster Castle. The three recipients have all given great service to their communities, and we are all very proud of them."
The recipients will be:
* Mrs Linda Dawson from Hoddlesden, for services to the Millennium Green in Hoddlesden.
In 1998, Mrs Dawson was part of the original committee who set up the Hoddlesden Millennium Green to transform six acres of derelict waste industrial ground into a haven for wildlife and an area that can be used by the whole community. Through her drive and enthusiasm, the Green has been awarded a Green Pennant for five consecutive years and holds The Queen Elizabeth II Fields in Trust status. Even though she has been subject to illness, her passion for the area is boundless and her community spirit is second to none.
* Mrs Carole Garrett from Burnley, for services to enterprise and skills in Burnley.
For the last 12 years, Mrs Garrett has run her own business and bespoke software organisation, Profit Optimiser, as well as working as an adviser at Business Link East Lancashire. Her 35 years of experience adds significant value to those that she supports and mentors. She is an active member of the Burnley Bondholders and is a great ambassador in the promotion of Burnley as an enterprising town, and as a result of her hard work and dedication the Bondholders facilitated the award of Most Enterprising Town in Britain in 2013.
* Peter Mason from Preston, for services to amateur sport.
In 1999, Mr Mason established the Preston Soccer Development Centre (PSDC) and is now the Chair of the renamed, and Football Association Accredited (FA), Sir Tom Finney PSDC which provides coaching to around 100 children on a weekly basis and also provides disability coaching and FA registered training for aspiring instructors. He is also Chair of Preston Swimming Club which, under his leadership, now has over 1,100 members; and Chair of the Preston Football Forum which has grown from 20 to over 110 member clubs. Mr Mason is a Superintendent in the British Transport Police and through his dedication has improved the diversity of the police workforce, built bridges with the local community and provided more officers on the beat.
About the British Empire Medal (BEM):
The BEM rewards an achievement or contribution of a 'hands-on' service to the community in a local geographical area.
This might take the form of sustained commitment in support of local charitable and/or voluntary activity, or innovative work that has delivered real impact.
At all levels, awards illuminate areas of dedicated service which merit public recognition.