Bedfordshire Lieutenancy: HM Lord-Lieutenant’s Presentation of Certificates of Meritorious Service
Date Added: 08/04/2022
At a special ceremony held at The Army Reserve Centre in Bedford, by kind permission of Colonel Ray Wilkinson QVRM TD VR DL, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, Helen Nellis, presented five Lord-Lieutenant Certificates for Meritorious Service for exceptional service by non-commissioned members of the Reserve Forces, Adult Instructors of the Cadet Forces, and Civilians employed with units or holding recognised unpaid posts. The Lord-Lieutenant was supported at the ceremony by Cadet Staff Sergeant Chloe Bezer (Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Army Cadet Force), Cadet Sergeant Matthew Brewer (Bedford Modern School Combined Cadet Force), Leading Cadet Cameron Moore (St John Ambulance) and Drill Cadet Lukas Wescott (Bedfordshire Police).
Invited guests included Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Army Cadet Force Commandant Colonel Andre Clark, Chief Constable Garry Forsyth, President of St John Ambulance Anthony Duggan OBE, Chairman of the Bedfordshire County Forum Major Simon Sadler TD DL and personnel from East Anglia Reserve Forces and Cadets Association.
Guests were joined by recipients and family members to hear details about the achievements of each Adult Instructor, read by their Commanding Officers.
The recipients honoured were:
- SSI Jonathan Pratt – Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Army Cadet Force
- AUO Greg Finlay – Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Army Cadet Force
- Cadet Instructor Rachel Carne – Bedfordshire Police
- Steven Crome MStJ – St John Ambulance
- Steve Wilson – St John Ambulance
At the same ceremony, the Lord-Lieutenant presented a Cadet Forces Medal to Colonel Andrew Every for his long service to Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Army Cadet Force. Colonel Every joined Beds & Herts ACF in 2009 having previously been a Reservist. His first role when he joined was Deputy Commandant; he became the Regional Sports Officer for Eastern Region in 2014 and in 2016, he took over as Commandant.
HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, Helen Nellis said after the ceremony: “It was a pleasure to celebrate the achievements and huge contribution of the people who were presented with Certificates of Meritorious Service and the Cadet Forces Medal. They are an inspiration to us all and a reminder of how much difference each of us can make when we go the extra mile to serve in these important organisations within our communities. My sincere thanks to each recipient for their service and leadership”.