RNLI lifeguard and volunteer among Cornwall people on New Year's Honours list
Martyn Ward from St Agnes has dedicated over 40 years to lifesaving in north Cornwall
Last updated 1st Jan 2022
An RNLI lifeguard supervisor and lifeboat volunteer, who has dedicated over 40 years to lifesaving in north Cornwall, is among the people from Cornwall on the Queen's New Year's Honours list.
61-year-old Martyn Ward from St Agnes has been recognised with a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his professional and volunteer commitment to lifesaving spanning four decades.
Martyn has worked as an RNLI lifeguard supervisor for 19 years, helping to manage lifeguarded beaches from Holywell Bay to Porthtowan.
He is also a deputy launching authority and water safety volunteer at St Agnes RNLI lifeboat station, and has been volunteering his services for the RNLI and surf lifesaving communities for 44 years.
Outside of lifeguarding, Martyn became deputy launching authority at St Agnes lifeboat station in 2006.
In 2016, he identified the need for a defibrillator at St Agnes beach and set about raising funds. Within two months he had raised enough money to install one at St Agnes and a second at neighbouring Chapel Porth.
Martyn said of his recognition: "I am so surprised and thankful that I have been nominated for this prestigious accolade.
"I was so not expected this, especially when the country is experiencing such challenging times and there are so many people working so hard to keep us all safe.
"I would like to accept this award, not just for myself, but also on behalf of the community, for all of those who over the years have contributed in making our seas, coast and beaches safer, whether they are a member of the public giving others safety advice, our Coastguard team, on our RNLI lifeboats, an RNLI lifeguard or a surf lifesaving club member, voluntary and professional side by side.
"Lifesaving has been my life's ambition and working to help deliver a top class lifeguard service whilst still contributing to sea safety".
People in Cornwall receiving New Year's Honours
Malcolm Bell: MBE
66-year-old Malcolm is the chief executive of Visit Cornwall and has been honoured for services to tourism in South West England, in particular during Covid-19.
Malcolm, from Truro, has been chief executive of Visit Cornwall Destination Management Organisation and Tourist Board for over a decade and before that led the South West Tourism Board. In that time, he has worked on behalf of the county’s tourism industry to raise its profile internationally and further the government’s strategic aims such as increasing productivity, addressing the challenge of seasonality, and promoting sustainable tourism options in the region.
Under his leadership, Visit Cornwall led the Cornwall & Devon Discover England Fund project, which developed and promoted heritage, genealogy and culture-focused itineraries targeting high-value American and Australian markets and trained and upskilled businesses in working with international markets.
During the Covid-19 Pandemic, Visit Cornwall were instrumental in establishing a regional group bringing together business leaders from across the south west, which met weekly to share intelligence and concerns with Visit England and Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport representatives over the lockdown and in the run-up to reopening.
Malcolm has worked to disseminate the latest information on support available, guidance updates, and initiatives like Visit Britain’s 'We’re Good to Go' industry standard to the SMEs and other businesses that make up Cornwall’s visitor economy.
The organisation has moved its regular business training seminars online, working with other local partners, including the Growth Hub, to ensure vital information reaches as wide an audience as possible. Across six webinars, Visit Cornwall saw more than 1,000 businesses attend.
Malcolm also played a key role in securing the Carbis Bay Hotel site for the G7 Summit and Visit Cornwall have also developed a legacy plan for the event to ensure it achieves its full potential for growing international tourism to the area, and delivering long-term economic and social benefits.
Barbara Rounsevell: MBE
61-year-old 'Babs' from Truro has been honoured for services to the community in Cornwall.
Barbara has a longstanding record of almost 40 years of community service. In 2014 she formed a Community Interest Company, "CHAOS" (Community Helping All Of Society) in the wider Cornwall area which is still active.
In 2015 she was pivotal in establishing the first 'Community Fridge' in Cornwall whereby food unused by an individual or a family is given to people in need. It is currently located in Truro and is free to use.
At the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, rather than simply closing the Community Fridge, she developed ‘Food2Share’ working with local supermarkets, food manufacturers, catering suppliers and shops to divert food from going to waste.
'Food2Share' has an innovative distribution mechanism in which delivery people are given a box of fresh food for themselves as an incentive and then required to deliver on their route home. This support is provided to those who were self isolating, shielding, in rural areas, or without transport.
During the Covid-19 pandemic some 750 families a week throughout mid and west Cornwall were provided with free food boxes.
Pawlet Brookes: MBE
58-year-old Pawlet from St Mawes is the founder and artistic director of Serendipity Arts UK Ltd and has been honoured for services to the Arts.
Pawlet has over 30 years’ experience in leading and progressing diverse arts and artists in the UK and, recently, has been a catalyst for bringing African Diaspora dance to prominence nationally and internationally in the UK through her leadership of Serendipity Artists UK.
She has worked at some of the most prominent arts and cultural organisations in the UK including the Nia Centre (Manchester) in the 1990s, the Artistic Director of Peepul Centre (Leicester) and Chief Executive of Rich Mix (London).
Sarah Stanton-Nadin: BEM
56-year-old Sarah has received a BEM for voluntary services to the community in Sennen and St Just during Covid-19.
Sarah has volunteered as a coastguard for around 10 years and as a long-standing governor at Sennen School, offers knowledgeable support on safeguarding.
Throughout the pandemic and when schools were closed, she liaised closely with the head teacher to ensure a watchful eye on those they felt may be at particular risk as a result of enforced isolation.
She has supported the Daisy chain charity, helping local people with food and shopping, and set up a weekly food and craft market with a group of friends which helps support local charities.
In addition to her small holiday cottage let and her litter picking and maintenance of the footpath to the adjacent beach, Sarah runs a cottage industry selling award winning relishes and cakes which she also donates to homeless people.
Gary Walters: BEM
56-year-old Gary has received a BEM for services to the community of Menheniot.
Gary became a shopkeeper at the age of 16 and by 18, was the youngest sub-postmaster in the country.
In addition to long hours (7am to 9pm six days and a further 10 hours on Sunday) he has repeatedly trained and employed local young people, helping them develop confidence and skills, especially at the critical stage between secondary education and university.
He encourages, engages with and supports local community activities including the Menheniot School Parents Association, the village theatre company, summer fair, and local fireworks display. He also steps up to key roles as scoutmaster, president and treasurer of the Liskeard Leos and treasurer of the parish hall.
When the village shop in St Germans (six miles away) went out of business, Gary provided post-office services until a social enterprise community shop had been established and also established and ran a network of 21 outreach sub-post office services in villages across south east Cornwall; he still runs 17 of them.
When the country went into lockdown in March 2020, he started providing home deliveries, communication and support to those who were shielding or isolating and others with disabilities preventing them from accessing the village. This has continued uninterrupted since.