Four Guernsey people given King's Birthday Honours

Jurat David Robilliard has been on the organising committee of the West Show for 26 years and the Deanery Synod for 52 years

Four Guernsey residents have been recognised in the 2024 King's Birthday Honours list.

Jurat David Robilliard has been made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the church and to the Bailiwick of Guernsey.

Marguerite Talmage, director of local charity Grow, and civil servant Jo Reeve have both been conferred with the British Empire Medal (BEM).

Meanwhile Mark Mapp, who joined St John Ambulance at 15, has been awarded the King’s Ambulance Medal (KAM).

Mr Robilliard, who was was born and educated in Guernsey, has held various positions in the States including secretary to the bailiff and has 52 years of unbroken service on the Deanery Synod.

He said he was in "total shock" when he received the call about his MBE: "I couldn't believe it."

Mr Robilliard said: "I'm a great believer in public service and doing something for one's island and one's parish."

He said he was "delighted and absolutely honoured that I should be thought worthy of this award".

Following in her mother's footsteps

Mrs Talmage's BEM was awarded for services to the community in Guernsey.

As well as her work with charity Grow, which included spearheading fundraising for its new site, she has volunteered for 50 years, founding a therapy dogs charity in 2018 and helping St Peter's parish win six gold medals in floral competitions.

Mrs Talmage said: "I'm following in my mother's footsteps, Joan Ozanne, who received a British Empire Medal for her services to the community in the arts."

Marguerite Talmage, director of Grow, has been conferred with the British Empire Medal for services to the Community in Guernsey

She said: "I think it just demonstrates how being a part of a community can be so important.

"And this comes at the end of volunteer week and you know, it's all about volunteering, isn't it?"

Mrs Talmage said she was planning to celebrate by going out for dinner with her family.

Mr Reeves, director of international relations and constitutional affairs for the States of Guernsey, said he was "completely bowled over" when he found about his BEM for services to Government in Guernsey.

He was in charge of supply lines during the pandemic and helped the States understand the knock-on effects of Brexit, as well as leading fisheries negotiations with the UK and France.

Mr Reeves said the honour was "fantastic" for him personally and his team, and it was going to be "extra special" meeting the King when he visits Guernsey and at Buckingham Palace.

Mark Mapp joined the St John Ambulance Service as a cadet when he was 15 and is now the CEO

Mr Mapp joined the St John Ambulance Service as a cadet when he was 15 and has held a range of positions including paramedic, cliff rescuer, and most recently CEO/chief ambulance officer.

He said the news had "taken the wind out of [his] sails".

Mr Mapp said: "I don't like all the attention, but I recognize it for the island and the bailiwick.

"It is really nice to be recognized at a national level for all the volunteering and all of the great work people do, not only in the ambulance service but within the healthcare sector."

He said he was "just a small part of" the ambulance service's success: "It's never been just me, it's always been about the team I've been part of."

Celebrations scale down

The Lieutenant-Governor has cancelled a reception for the King’s birthday at Government House, because of expected wet weather.

A statement said: "The wet weather plan can only accommodate a much smaller number of guests with a focus on those honoured in the King’s Birthday List."

Guests are asked to check their invitations to see whether it includes confirmation of a specific wet weather invitation.