A REDDITCH woman has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the New Year’s Honours list for services to authors and literature.
Stephanie Hale, who lived in Winyates West in the 1980s and attended Arrow Vale High School, will visit Buckingham Palace to receive her BEM award in recognition of her valuable work in service to the community.
She said: “I remember watching the royal wedding on television when I was at school in Redditch.
“It would never have occurred to me that one day I’d be visiting Buckingham Palace or receiving an award from the Queen. That would have seemed way beyond my reach, so I’m absolutely thrilled.”
Originally a newsreader for the BBC and IRN, Stephanie left journalism after having children to work at Oxford University as assistant director of the creative writing programme.
50 year-old Stephanie, who now lives in Oxford, is the founder of The Oxford Literary Consultancy and she added: “Nearly 80 per cent of people want to write books apparently, but most people never get around to doing it.
“My job is making sure that they don’t go to their graves still wishing they wrote their book but never got around to it.”
BEMs are awarded for a ‘hands-on’ service to the local community, often a long-term charitable or voluntary activity, or innovative work that has made a significant difference.
MEANWHILE, Redditch-born swimmer Claire Cashmore has been recognised in the Queen’s New Year Honours list, being appointed MBE for services to swimming.
In the 2016 Rio Olympics, Paralympian swimmer Cashmore won a gold medal in the 4x100m medley relay and a silver in the SB8 100m breaststroke.
Claire was also given the Black Pear Tree Award in November 2016 to honour her sporting achievements.
Alcester’s Olympic showjumper Nick Skelton has also made the honours list, being elevated from Officer to Commander of the British Empire (CBE).
The 58-year-old won individual gold at his seventh Olympic Games in the summer after he initially retired 16 years ago after breaking his neck in two places.
Honours are given by the Queen to individuals for outstanding service to the community and in total 1,197 people received awards in the New Year Honours, with 322 receiving a BEM, 503 an MBE and 222 an OBE.
