Honours

SEVERAL PEOPLE from Bourne have been honoured in the ninety years since the system was introduced to reward those who have served the government, the country or the community with distinction.

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established by King George V on 4th June 1917 and includes five classes in civil and military divisions ranging from knight and dame grand cross to commander, officer and member, although there was also a related British Empire Medal which has not been issued since 1993. The awards are made twice annually to coincide with the New Year and the Queen’s Birthday in June, the motto of the order being For God and the Empire, and although the most junior of the British orders of chivalry, it has more members than any other and now embraces all walks of life in our society.

Competition for these awards is tremendous and the Cabinet Office is inundated with nominations each year while the process is a lengthy one, often up to two years, and so those who are chosen should be justly proud of their achievement.

The first recipient in Bourne was Dr William John Gilpin (1864-1943), pictured above, who was awarded the MBE in 1918 for his work in running the military hospital set up at the Vestry Hall in North Street for the treatment of soldiers wounded during the Great War. When hostilities began in 1914, he was a general practitioner based at Brook Lodge in South Street but was also Bourne’s Medical Officer of Health and so became a consultant to the hospital, later being appointed commandant by the War Office and between then and the war’s end a total of 945 men from the front line were cared for.

Albert E K Wherry (1874-1962) became chairman of the family business, Wherry and Sons Ltd, but his most important work was carried out during the Great War when he was appointed adviser to the Ministry of Food and the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries and in 1920 he was awarded the OBE for his conspicuous service on various government committees.

The daughter of a Bourne brewer, Lilian Wyles (1885-1975), is best remembered as one of Britain’s first female police officers and the first to become a member of the CID with the Metropolitan Police and in 1949 she received her BEM for thirty years of dedicated service.

A leading voluntary worker during the last century was Mrs Kate Cooke (1896-1978) who was awarded the MBE in 1953 in recognition of her public service, notably as billeting officer responsible for hundreds of evacuees sent here during the Second World War.

John Robert Arnold (1885-1965) was injured during the Great War but it was his work during the later conflict of 1939-45 that brought him honour when he used his experience to start helping disabled ex-servicemen through various local committees in the Bourne area and in 1958 he was awarded the MBE.

The longest serving fireman in the history of Bourne, John Henry Moody (1906-92), always known as Jack, was honoured in 1963 with the BEM, having completed a total of 37 years with the brigade, eventually becoming station officer.

Nursing care at the Butterfield Hospital was recognised when the assistant matron, Sister Grace Ann Bristow, aged 62, was awarded the MBE in 1973. She worked at the Butterfield for 20 years and established a reputation for her compassion and efficiency.

Mrs Ida Pick (1888-1975), a leading figure in local affairs for more than half a century, was awarded the MBE in 1974 for her voluntary service which embraced many organisations but is mainly remembered for her work with the Red Cross and for inspiring the opening of the Darby and Joan Hall in South Street in 1960.

Our most distinguished award winner was Raymond Mays (1899-1980), international motor racing driver and designer and the inspiration behind the BRM which in 1962 became the first all-British car to win the world championship with Graham Hill at the wheel and in 1978 he received a CBE for his services to motor racing.

Cyril “Ching” Clay, one of Bourne’s most familiar characters for over half a century, completed 65 years working for the local council without missing a single day off work and in 1980, he was awarded the BEM for his dedication to duty. He is now in his eighties and can still be seen most days cycling around the town.

The vice-chairman of the Royal British Legion (Bourne branch), Hugh “Nobby” Middleton retired to live here nine years ago after serving with the Royal Navy and the civilian catering staff at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, and was awarded the MBE in 1993 for services to the Ministry of Defence.

Hugh Delaine-Smith (1920-1995) was one of the best known businessmen in Bourne in recent years as chairman and managing director of the local bus company, Delaine Buses Limited. He became involved in the business while still a boy and was awarded the MBE for his services to public transport shortly before he died in 1995.

Another businessman to be honoured is John Holliday Wand who was born at Rippingale in 1925 and established an electrical and domestic appliance business in North Street that is still trading today. Jack, as he is known to everyone, was awarded the MBE for his services to the electronics industry in 1999 and he remains a familiar face around the town.

Michael Warner (1940-2007) was the son of Lorenzo Warner who founded Warners Midlands plc, eventually becoming managing director and then chairman. He developed the printing side of the company, expanding into the publication of colour magazines, and was awarded the MBE in 2000 for services to business.

Gerald Blacoe, aged 55, a Bourne businessman who has made his mark in international trade, was awarded the MBE in the 2009 New Year Honours list. He is senior manager for the pillow and quilt manufacturers, Fogarty of Boston, and also chairman of the East Midlands International Trade Association as well as being active in the community at Bourne where he has lived for the past 17 years, being a regular player for the Motley Crew cricket team and also helps coach youngsters at Bourne Town Juniors Football Club.

The latest recipient is Jim Jones aged 70, of the Civic Society, who has been awarded the MBE for his services to the community in recognition of his work for the church and at the Heritage Centre in South Street over the past quarter of a century.

The town has many more unsung heroes who give their time unstintingly for the good of others but who will never be so honoured. The awards also reflect the association the recipients have with their organisations and of course the town of Bourne itself and so we should all be justly proud.