Two people from the Coalville area who were honoured for their service to their communities in national honours lists for 2022 and 2023 have been presented with their awards by the Lord-Lieutenant at a ceremony at Beaumanor Hall.

A British Empire Medal went to William (Bill) Brown, for services to the community in Coalville, including his work with the Royal British Legion.

A Coronation Champion award was also presented to Helen Crouch, whose service included setting up a Coronavirus Community Response Team for a number of villages, including Thornton and Bagworth.

Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire Mike Kapur OBE presented a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) and five British Empire Medals (BEM) at the ceremony, held last week.

The MBE was awarded to Barbara Chantrill, founder of Leicestershire Education Business Company (LEBC), for services to education.

The BEM recipients were:

• Brian Jackson, for services to the community in Leicestershire. Mr Jackson is also one of the founding members of Leicestershire Search and Rescue.
• Jessica Davey, for services to young people in Deptford in the London Borough of Lewisham. Ms Davey also undertook the roles of youth participant and volunteer for Second Wave Centre for Youth Arts.
• William (Bill) Brown, for services to the community in Coalville, including his work with the Royal British Legion.
• Richard Easom, for services to the community in Melton Mowbray. Mr Easom particularly gave long service as a local parish councillor, providing support to a number of villages including Grimston.
• Paul Gardner, for services to the community in Hinckley, which includes his work with the local Castlemead Hospital Radio over many years.

In a separate ceremony on the same day, a further seven people from Leicestershire who were honoured nationally with others as Coronation Champions to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, were presented awards by the Lord-Lieutenant in further recognition of their voluntary service to their local community. 

The award recipients were:

• Helen Crouch, whose service included setting up a Coronavirus Community Response Team for a number of villages, including Thornton and Bagworth.
• Kimberley Durham, whose service relates to the founding of two local community groups to help improve the environment.
• Adam Jones, who in his role of Chairman of Lutterworth Round Table worked to organise a number of large community events which brought people together and helped raise significant funds for local causes.
• Geoffrey Kirk, who set up Countesthorpe Community Trust Fund and has dedicated a vast amount of time to its income generation.
• Bob Lee, who formed the South Leicestershire Litter Wombles and has been dedicated to making a difference through the group to the environment ever since.
• Jasu Tailor, who through her voluntary work at Leicester Community Links, has undertaken and set up a number of community projects, including community gardening and arts and crafts groups.
• Robert White, who was recognised for the substantial voluntary support he has given to men suffering with prostate cancer.

Mr Kapur said: "I am so pleased that we were able to gather to recognise 13 of the best examples of community stalwarts in Leicestershire.

"It was a real pleasure and privilege for me, in my role as Lord-Lieutenant, to present these honours and awards to each of the deserving individuals."