Suffolk poppy volunteer appointed MBE in King's New Year Honours

Jill Gladwell has collected for the Poppy Appeal since she was 13 years old

A Suffolk woman has been appointed MBE for her voluntary services to the Royal British Legion.

Jill Gladwell, 97, from Stowmarket, is the oldest recipient on the King's New Year Honours list 2024.

She has worked as a Poppy Appeal collector since 1941 and received an 80th anniversary award for her commitment two years ago.

"I'd done it for the love of the thing and to know that I was helping somebody," Ms Gladwell said.

Jill Gladwell met King Charles III, while he was still heir to the throne, at the launch of the Poppy Appeal in 2021

Ms Gladwell began collecting poppies as her father, who she described as a "strong legion man", served in World War One.

In her younger years, she also fundraised for the Red Cross and League of Friends.

She said she "didn't do it for for recognition of any sort" and added that it was a "big honour" to be recognised.

Ms Gladwell is one of 14 people in Suffolk who have been recognised.

Bryony Peall (right) said working for charity has been "a rollercoaster of a project"

Bryony Peall, a community worker from Saxmundham, has received the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the community.

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She helped recruit 150 local volunteers for the IP17 Good Neighbour Scheme charity, and arranged food parcels, prescription deliveries and telephone support to combat loneliness during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"I'm just overwhelmed," she said. "I feel incredibly grateful to all of those people that worked for us, donated things and everybody that helped make it such a success."

Bill Bulstrode was honoured for his contribution to the community in Framlingham

Bill Bulstrode, 70, runs a shop in Framlingham and has received a BEM for services to the community.

He said: "I'm born and bred [here]. I love the town and I'll do anything to help it."

Mr Bulstrode, who lives in Occold, credited his success to his late wife Theresa: "[She] helped me an awful lot over the 40-odd years we were married. We've done a lot."

Other people from Suffolk receiving awards in the King's New Year Honours include:

• Denise Christie, from Bury St Edmunds, appointed OBE for services to occupational therapy, for her work as chair at Elizabeth Casson Trust

• Anthony Gallagher, from Saxmundham, becomes an OBE for services to young people, for his work as chair on the National Youth Sector Advisory Board

• Keith Deller, from Bury St Edmunds, and 1983 BDO World Darts Championship winner, appointed MBE for charitable services to the community in Suffolk

• Belinda Gray, from Woodbridge, becomes an MBE for services to Breast Cancer Charities, for her work as founder of Art for Cure

• Steven Miller, from Bury St Edmunds, appointed MBE for services to heritage and tourism, including for his work as director of culture and heritage, and head of Norfolk Museums Service at Norfolk County Council

• Caroline Wright, from Bury St Edmunds, becomes an MBE for services to early years education, for her work as an early childhood director at Bright Horizons Nursery

• Enid Bacon, from Bury St Edmunds, receives a BEM for services to early education, for her work as founder at Beck Row Preschool

• Janet Dicks receives a BEM for services to the community in Hadleigh

• Robert Felix Erith TD DL, from Bures on the Essex-Suffolk border, receives a BEM for services to the environment in the nearby Dedham Vale

• June Miller, from Bury St Edmunds, receives a BEM for services to the community in Stanton

• Stephen Vale, from Bury St Edmunds, receives a BEM for services to the community in West Stow