Former Salisbury Mayor made MBE in New Years Honours
Penny Brown was Mayor of the city in 2013/14
Last updated 30th Dec 2023
A former Mayor of Salisbury has been made an MBE in the 2024 New Years honours list for her work with local charities.
Penny Brown is among four recipients of awards in the list who are from Salisbury.
Mrs Brown MBE took the role of Mayor in 2013, the city's 753rd and only 21st woman, and has been heavily involved in fundraising in the city for the last 20 years.
Mrs Brown's work with Salisbury District Hospital Charity, the Stars Appeal, was particularly fruitful.
During her year as Mayor in 2013/14, she worked closely with the charity to raise £19,000 for a new CT Scanner for the hospital.
In 2018, Mrs Brown was invited to become Chair of Fundraising for the Stars Appeal, where they'd started a project for a new MRI Scanner. In less than 12 months, the public had raised an enormous £1.5 million to fund the new equipment.
Raising millions with Stars Appeal
Penny spoke to Greatest Hits Radio and told us she was shocked to discover the letter telling her about becoming an MBE, which had almost been ignored!
"My husband and I were looking after three of our youngest grandchildren and we'd just come in from a long day out with them at about 4:00 PM, everybody wanting tea and I just ignored the pile of mail on the floor.
"Eventually I got to picking it up, and I instantly thought I've been pinned for jury service, that looks very official. I turned the envelope over and it said the Cabinet Office."
Penny kept the news a secret for a couple of days before telling her two daughters, and more recently a few members of her family.
But she doesn't view the award as just for her.
"My instant reaction, is that this is not just me. This is not about me. It's for everyone who has helped me over the last 20 years that I have been fundraising here in Salisbury.
"It's been a huge privilege."
Penny said that during her work with the Stars Appeal, she soon realised how important the charity is to the local community. And that gave the fundraising efforts a huge boost.
"Everybody, it kind of feels they own a little (of the charity), and so the money just came flooding in."
Her eyes had been truly opened to the effort local people go to during her time as Mayor, where she attended various events with the military and charities.
"It was hugely humbling and , at that stage, it made me realize quite how many volunteers locally pitch in and help all sorts of different charities.
"Absolutely staggering."
Others from Salisbury recognised
There are three other awards for people from Salisbury.
Belinda Winstone has also been awarded an MBE for her services to military families.
Hilary Jenkins has been awarded a BEM for her services to the community in Wiltshire during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Lieutenant Colonel David Whimpenny has been made an OBE for voluntary service.