Queen’s Birthday Honours for charity boss and community stalwart

The father of two retired from The Children’s Trust, a national charity based in Tadworth, in April.

He was able to celebrate the news with former colleagues, volunteers and children and parents that he knew from the charity over the weekend, by attending its annual Supercar Event at Dunsfold Aerodrome on Sunday 18 June.

He said: “I am absolutely delighted to have received this honour personally. However, I know that it also reflects the outstanding work of The Children’s Trust and all the support I have had over a 20 year career. This includes the brilliant, professional staff and the huge number of volunteers, who have given such tremendous support to the children.”

Sara Bowers, of Steyning Bookshop, was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the community in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

“It was a very big surprise,” she said. “We’ve been here 30 years, and I suppose the bookshop’s been the centre of lots of lots of cultural activities in Steyning.”

However she added: “There’s lots and lots of people who are equally worthy of getting some such award.

“I’ve been in the Chamber of Trade for some time. I’ve worked hard for that - along with some other people.

“I think people nominate you if they think you’ve really put a lot into something. I spoke to some of the people who nominated me, because I finally tracked them down.

“I tried not to give them a hard time. I think it’s very sweet of them to put my name forward.”