PICTURED: The Bedfordshire residents who received Queen’s Birthday Honours

A DEDICATED swimming coach was one of the 11 local heroes presented with honours at a special ceremony this week.

Susan Bell was honoured with a British Empire Medal for her impact on the lives of many young people during the 25 years she has been coaching at Bedford Eagles diving club, and has also been with the local council for over a decade.

Because of this, she was recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List along with the ten other Bedfordshire people and has her award presented by HM Lord-Lieutenant Helen Nellis at a ceremony at the Shuttleworth Collection and the Swiss Garden, in Old Warden.

Susan was joined by Allan Jones who has been recognised for his contribution to the community of Edmonton, in north London. His involvement with the Sea Cadet Unit there began in 1985 when he offered to assist the small committee of trustees with running of the charity.

Luton woman, Anne Eileen McMahon, was presented with an Honorary British Empire Medal for her work volunteering with the Red Cross at Luton & Dunstable Hospital in 1974, asover the years she has helped hundreds of people to feel confident about conditions which can affect their lives as well as raising money for charity.

Dignitaries at the event including High Sheriff of Bedfordshire the Countess of Erroll, Chairman of Central Bedfordshire Council Cllr David Bowater and Mayor of Luton David Taylor were joined by family members and friends of the recipients at the ceremony, where the award winners’ achievements were read out by the Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets.

The other recipients honoured were:

Peter Horrocks CBE (Aspley Guise, lately Director, BBC World Service Group – for services to broadcasting)

Raymond Aldous MBE (Luton – for services to young people and scouting in Bedfordshire)

Jean Ball MBE (Leighton Buzzard – for services to the community in Stanbridge)

Rita Jarman MBE (Luton – for services to young people and scouting in Bedfordshire)

Lionel Stewart MBE (Kempston – for services to the community in Bedfordshire)

James O’Connor MBE (Works in Luton, lives in Buckinghamshire, Chief Executive, Noah Enterprises – for services to homeless people in Luton)

Clifton Ibbett OBE (Bedfordshire – for services to charity and to the community in Bedfordshire)

Peter Harwood OBE (Sandy, lately Chief Conciliator, Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service – for services to the economy and employment relations)