Several members of BFG were honoured for their service in the recently published Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

‘Inspirational’, ‘respectful’ and ‘committed’ were just a few of the terms used to describe the efforts which led to them being awarded richly-deserved honours. Among those honoured were the following:

MBE

Staff Sergeant Herbert

Staff Sergeant Jacqueline Herbert is to be honoured for her inspirational and selfless commitment to 16 Signal Regiment, currently based in Elmpt, Germany with the award of an MBE.  In her 7 years with the Regiment, she has worked at troop and squadron level and furthermore made an impact in every aspect of regimental life.

“I was really surprised,” she remarked, “I know the CO is a busy man and I’m really flattered that he took the time to apply for it.”

According to her citation, her dedication to her work sets her apart as an exemplary individual and her inspirational leadership of young soldiers gained her deep respect from all ranks in the regiments. SSgt Herbert was a pinnacle of the Unit’s Welfare Office on the Regiment’s first deployment to Afghanistan and continues to actively work with the stations’ SSAFA support team. As well as her Unit Welfare role, she is also a physical training instructor, and in this role organised, trained and led a soldier’s wives group on a marching fitness test, raising a considerable amount of money for charity. On her recent deployment on Op HERRICK 8 as SQMS, she showed her extraordinary spirit by being responsible for organising the UK’s support arrangements for HQ ISAF in Kabul, and turning around what had been a failing organisation, to successfully support the needs of 250 UK personnel. Joining the TA in 1976 and transferring to the Regular Army in 1995, Jacqueline’s latest posting with 16 Signal Regiment marks a high point in her career to date, next to which she still finds time to act as a volunteer instructor for the guides. She will be travelling to London later this year to formally be awarded with her honour by a member of the Royal Family.  She we will accompanied by her husband, Maj Herbie Herbert, and children, Emma, Terry and Ellie.

Lance Corporal David Mair.

L Cpl David Mair is  being recognised for his high standards of tact, sensitivity and  respect for others, through his support of over 1900 soldiers, officers and their families from 17 NATO nations. He has been a Unit Welfare JNCO at the ARRC Welfare Centre, Rheindahlen for the last two years, and he is also singled out for his eight years of running a dog training school on camp in his spare time, for the benefit of the Rheindahlen community, and supporting disabled German children with the proceeds.

“When they told me I was to receive an award” he said “I felt a bit claustrophobic and tried to get out of the Sgt’s Mess.  I know people say that other people deserve the award, but I really do mean it.  I think definitely my OC, Major Gary Stoker, as well as Cpt Darren Walker and Sgt Maj Pete Wallace deserve this more than me.  If it wasn’t for them letting me go off and do these things I would not be getting this award.  And another colleague, Maj Anna Sanford is always there with me to help out at the dog school.”

David will also be joined by his wife Iris and children, Rebecca and Victoria, at the Award Ceremony at Buckingham Palace later this year.

Meritorious Service Medal

WO2 Pete Wyatt

WO2 Pete Wyatt who has been honoured with the Meritorious Service Medal, joined the Rheindahlen Support Unit on 16 December 2002.  He was appointed as the Housing and Estate Manager for the Monchengladbach area comprising of some 300 families and MQs.    His responsibilities encompass supervising and maintaining a large and diverse off-base estate and he involves himself fully in the local community.   By doing so, he can improve the quality of life for the occupants.   The Housing Department has received much praise from the community for the caring and speedy manner in which he deals with their problems.

Pete is also noted for his computer skills and, with the increased requirement from higher authority for statistics, he recognised a need to revise procedures.   With tremendous enthusiasm and considerable patience he applied his extensive computer skills to develop various databases and to assist in the production of the required figures. 

Outside normal working hours WO2 Wyatt has made a tremendous contribution to the community.  On the Monchengladbach Estate he identified an area of waste ground which he thought would benefit the youth of his 'patch' and transformed this ground into a playing field.

Pete is also an accomplished Beaver Scout Leader who was recently presented with his 5 Year Service Certificate.   Since joining the Nord Park Scout Group, he has motivated the other leaders to get everyone more involved.  This he accomplished very quickly due to the strength of his personality and commitment

Other strings to his bow are his commitment to the local girl's soccer team and the Duke of Edinburgh Awards

On top of all this, Pete is an active member of the Combined Amateur Theatrical Society, affectionately known as CATS, currently serving as both Theatre and Stage Manager.

He said “I’m very honoured to receive it and I wasn’t aiming to get an award,  It’s a bit of a cliché, but I get a buzz out of volunteering and I think it’s a good thing to do.  I love a good challenge too, and I find passing on my knowledge to kids is particularly rewarding”.