Former High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight, Gay Edwards, has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours with an MBE for services to the community of the Isle of Wight.
71-year-old Gay, whose full name is Gabrielle, has given unstinting service to the Isle of Wight for over 45 years, involving herself in several areas of the community.
Since 2011, Gay has been Trustee of a Women’s Refuge on the Isle of Wight. She has been actively involved as a Trustee of the Oglander Roman Trust which runs the Brading Roman Villa and establishing the site as an all-weather tourist destination in an attempt to sustain profits all year round. From 2011 she has also been President of the local branch of Campaign to Protect Rural England.
Her work within the prison service started in the mid-1970s where she sat on the Parkhurst Prison Board of Visitors. She was an active member who strove to obtain fair, equal and just outcomes for prisoners. She then went on to work within the Hampshire Probation Service as well as the Parole Board. She also joined the Hampshire Police Independent Custody Visitor scheme. She has risen through the offices of the local probation service for over 20 years to eventually become Chair of the Isle of Wight and Hampshire Probation Service.
Inspector Louise Hubble of Hampshire Constabulary has been awarded an OBE for her services to the rural communities of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. In total 221 people from across the country have been awarded an OBE, with 1,109 award recipients in total.
Also recognised in the Honours list is Dave Curry, the Chief Fire Officer for Hampshire Fire Service. Mr Curry, who is also in charge of the Island’s fire service, is to receive the Queen’s Fire Service Medal for Distinguished Service. He retires later this year.
