MBE for former Eastbourne man

A former Eastbourne man has been recognised in the latest New Year’s Honours for his role in providing food boxes to clinically vulnerable people during lockdown.
Alex Mayfield SUS-211101-111522001Alex Mayfield SUS-211101-111522001
Alex Mayfield SUS-211101-111522001

Alex Mayfield, a former pupil at St Thomas a Becket and Cavendish schools, has been awarded an MBE.

The 51-year-old, who left Eastbourne in 1985, works for foodservice company Brakes and, according to the company, played a pivotal role in leading a team that created and launched a service to support the shielding clinically vulnerable with vital food boxes during the first nationwide lockdown in March last year.

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Working with the government, Brakes, in partnership with Bidfood, conceived and launched the service, delivering the first boxes direct to those who most needed them in only nine days.

Mr Mayfield, who was honoured alongside colleague Ricky Sercombe, said, “I am delighted and proud to be among those honoured.

“This has been a difficult year for everyone, but particularly the hospitality industry.

“The food box scheme for the vulnerable shielded allowed all of us at Brakes to show our resilience and capabilities at the most difficult time. To be recognised for my contribution in creating the scheme is humbling and amazing.”

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Hugh Mahoney at Brakes said, “Alex Mayfield was instrumental in developing and leading Brakes’ approach to creating this unique service, co-ordinating supply, procurement, packing and distribution in record time.

“We are very proud that Brakes colleagues have been recognised for the role they played as essential ‘key workers’, that alongside many other largely unseen organisations, ensured food and supplies got through to those in most need.

“Brakes was also responsible for food supply to critical institutions such as the NHS and the care sector as they struggled to cope with the difficulties caused by the pandemic, and worked with retailers to provide much needed products to fill empty shelves in the early days of the crisis.

“The MBEs given to Alex and Ricky reflect the resilience, innovation and resourcefulness of our business in developing and launching a service to support the clinically vulnerable at a time when many of those most in need were unable to access food and essential supplies.

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“The well-deserved honours are a fantastic recognition of the boundless energy and resourcefulness they displayed in leading their teams at a very challenging time. I’m very proud of how they drew the business together to deliver such a valuable service so quickly, at a time when many supermarkets were displaying empty shelves and were not able to provide delivery slots.

“Brakes rose to this challenge as one, and the awards recognise the dedication and commitment from the thousands of drivers, packers, contact centre operators and planners that created and delivered this service from a standing start in days.”

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