By Mal Butler
A Poppy Appeal collector for around 75 years has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the King’s New Year’s Honours.
Elizabeth Bilk, 84, from Cowes, known as Betty, was awarded the honour for services in the community having raised more than £150,000 over the years for the Royal British Legion (RBL).
Betty explained: “I used to go out with my mother knocking on doors when I was around 10 years old. We would go house to house, my mum with her collecting tin and me with the box of poppies.
“As I grew up, I was asked to go on the local organising committee as other people were getting too old. Things just got bigger and bigger. I would get a box of 500 poppies and have to put the leaf and stalk together.
“I also supplied the wreaths for the memorials. People would phone me up the day before and say they hadn’t received theirs, so I would drive all over the Island delivering them.
“The honour is a complete surprise; you don’t realise you are doing something for the community when you are actually doing it. I ever expected anything; it was my pleasure. When I received the letter I thought it was a mix-up and they had got the wrong name – I’m just an ordinary person.”
In the summer, Betty got the chance to visit Buckingham Palace to pick up a certificate for 70 years of service to the RBL.
Bembridge resident, Gail Bedding, has also received a BEM for services to charitable fund-raising.
Gail, 61, is a passionate advocate for disabled children and their families in the south- east, and moved to the Island three years ago after her disabled son, Fergus, 21, was placed in a care home and is now living ‘his best life’.
For 14 years she was a trustee with Challengers, a charity in Guildford which provides play for disabled children, before becoming chairman. She was also a trustee for Fitzroy, a Petersfield-based charity which provides homes for adults, as well as a trustee for Love for Life which helps disabled adults meet each other and take part in activities.
Gail continues to give her time volunteering for the Community Fridge, in St Helens, while continuing to deliver workshops nationally.
She said: “I’m a firm believer that a person should give something back to the community, even for an hour a week, if they are able to do so.
“It is a privilege and an honour to receive the award but a bit of a shock and we were sworn to secrecy for the last couple of months. My husband, David, has now been telling everyone! I couldn’t have done it without him; it’s been a team effort.”
Charlotte Hodges, principal psychologist at HMP Isle of Wight, has been awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to rehabilitation in a prison setting.
Deputy Governor Ben Cooper said: “HMP Isle of Wight takes immense pride in the recognition of Charlie’s dedication and her work towards rehabilitation within our prison.
“Her unwavering energy and commitment to creating a multidisciplinary environment for rehabilitation and public protection are felt daily, with her impact extending far beyond this prison’s walls.”
It was also announced that Carla Bradshaw has been recognised with an honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to education.
The awards were presented earlier in the year, but Carla, who lives in the West Wight, was named in this week’s honours. She was born in Holland and first moved to the UK in 1989.
She was business manager for the four Catholic primary schools on the Island: St Mary’s, Ryde; St Saviour’s, Totland; St Thomas of Canterbury, Carisbrooke, and Holy Cross, East Cowes. She has an education business consultancy and was also chief financial officer of the Portsmouth Academy Trust. She is also chair of the Federation of the Church Schools of Shalfleet and Freshwater & Yarmouth.
Carla said: “I feel honoured and humbled; there are so many people in my field who work so hard.”
Isle of Wight Observer