Sidmouth woman receives British Empire Medal

By Ollie Heptinstall, Will Goddard

A woman from Sidmouth received her BEM (British Empire Medal) in a ceremony at the Royal Marines Commando Training Centre in Lympstone last week.

Janet Webber was given the award earlier this year in the Queen's New Year's Honours List for 2022 in recognition of her 16 years of services to women in the international maritime sector.

Mrs Webber is the Director of Development at Christian charity Mission to Seafarers. Her work during the Covid-19 pandemic included making sure that foreign sailors stranded in UK waters or at UK ports had access to toiletries, food and wi-fi to be able to call home. In addition, she has made significant contributions to safeguarding the mental health of seafarers.

Also attending the ceremony was 12-year-old Max Woosey, who also received the British Empire Medal after spending more than two years sleeping in a tent for charity.

Others attending the ceremony included:

• Andrew Willard, Plymouth, who received a Member of the British Empire, MBE, for services to HM Prison and Probation Service.
• Verna Pollard, Plymouth, a foster carer who received an MBE for services to children.
• Dr Miles Joyner, Exeter, Founder of the Exeter Leukaemia Fund, who received an MBE for services to people suffering from blood cancer in Devon.
• Anne Muriel Stapleton, Plymouth, who received a British Empire Medal, BEM, for voluntary service to Young People.
• Emma Jones, Plymouth, who received a BEM for services to the community in Plymouth during covid.
• Gerald Millington, Otterton, who received a BEM for services to local history in Devon and Hertfordshire.
• Jill Diprose, Dawlish, who received a BEM as Founder of 'Activities Interests Music Support', for services to families of children with special needs in Dawlish.
• Brian Stanley Smith, Newton Abbot, who received a BEM for services to the community in Newton Abbot, particularly during covid.
• Lt Cdr Louise Moxworthy, from Exeter, who received the Royal Red Cross (Second Class) ARRC – a military decoration – for excelling in two senior nursing roles.

David Fursdon, Lord Lieutenant for Devon (DCC)

The Lord Lieutenant, David Fursdon, said handing out such awards to people is one of the best things he does.

Mr Fursdon added: "Being able to thank these individuals for what they have done, show recognition for them … what can be better than that?

"What this does is highlight the quieter, steadier people who just, in their communities, deliver year-on-year services to their fellows and peers.

"These are modest people. They don't seek the lime light, and some may even be embarrassed to be here today. I love that understated nature, and yet there they are, delivering day after day after day.

"People have stepped up during covid in a way that you would not have imagined, and the number of people who have learned to volunteer and are now appreciated by their community has increased.

"In a world full of bad news, this is just unalloyed good news, isn't it!"

The free drop-in group AIMS, founded by Dr Jill Diprose, currently meets at Oaklands Park School on Saturdays. Click here to find out more.