Our member Pam Duxbury says she’s “thrilled and delighted” to receive the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Jubilee Birthday Honours.
Pam, service manager for Beacon Bolton Counselling, receives the medal for services to the community.
And she admitted she thought it was a hoax when she was told about her award.
“I’m absolutely thrilled and delighted,” she said. “To receive an honour from such a high level is fantastic.
“As counsellors, we never set out to be recognised or to make a name for ourselves, and this came out of the blue.
“I’ve worked hard and been loyal to the organisation and very committed, but it doesn’t seem enough for such a high award.
“I’m slowly coming back down from cloud nine,” she added.
Our member Pam Duxbury received the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Jubilee Birthday Honours
Pam said that she doesn’t know who nominated her for the award.
“I got a telephone call in April to say I’d been nominated and to ask if I’d like to accept it,” she said. “In truth I thought it might be a hoax.
“First of all there was the shock, then I was excited, then I thought ‘hang on a minute’.
“I went through a roller coaster of emotions in a telephone call that lasted a few minutes.”
Pam, who has been service manager since 2015, said she trained to be a counsellor after her own positive experience of counselling.
“I came to counselling late,” she said. “The thing that brought me to counselling was having counselling myself in 2005.
“I learned so much about myself during that time.
“If I’d had that when I was in my teens, and my 20s and 30s – It was invaluable.
“It was such a positive experience.”
Pam’s British Empire Medal comes a year after Beacon Bolton Counselling received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services.
Kathryn Gough, Andrew Gill and Meg Gough attended a Buckingham Palace garden party
Our members Andrew Gill and Meg Gough, and Beacon volunteer Kathryn Gough attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May. They were joined by the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Wessex.
Andrew said he was honoured and humbled to represent the service .
“It was a truly wonderful day out,” he said. “It was a joy to see the gardens and the incredible array of people from all walks of life.”
Members' achievements recognised in Honours lists
Edith Fleck has been made an MBE and Pete Barty (pictured right) has received a British Empire Medal
Member hopes MBE will help raise the profile of mental health
Hardip Lawana says "it will be a pleasure to meet a royal" when he receives his award
Member speaks of his honour at receiving an OBE
Dr Ramesh Pattni's award is recognition for services to interfaith relations and the Hindu community in the UK