Three Islanders On New Year Honours List

Three islanders have been recognised in the King's New Year Honours List.

Sue May has been made an MBE for services to the community as founder and chairperson of the Jersey Brain Tumour Charity.

She formed it following her own diagnosis of a benign tumour, which doctors said had been slowing growing all her life. It was picked up after she suffered a seizure on her way to work at the age of 55.

Sue had an operation to remove the tumour in September 2010, and formed the charity - initially called the Sue May Trust in July 2011  - to offer support to islanders going through the same thing.

It rebranded as the Jersey Brain Tumour Charity in 2013 and helps patients of all ages, and their families.

The charity says her work has made a huge difference to many people's lives:

"Sue’s actions through the Charity have supported, patients, their families, friends and carers, provided 1:1 counselling and bereavement support sessions, ‘Buddies’ support group meetings and walks designed to promote empowerment, and independence, address isolation to enable Islanders to feel part of a community in Jersey again.

Medical practitioners are also now referring patients to the charity. The charity facilitates wherever possible the fast-tracking of patients to specialists in Jersey and the UK at critical times."

Sue continues to campaign and fundraise despite suffering the long-term effects of her tumour and requiring further surgery earlier this year.

She says she is 'extremely honoured' to be made an MBE:

"As much as it is for me personally, I hope it also helps to spotlight the work of the Jersey Brain Tumour Charity which I founded in 2011 after my own diagnosis and surgery. Brain Tumours can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, background or lifestyle and I am really proud that Jersey now has an established Brain Tumour Community. The charity offers local support to patients and their families and makes a real difference by ensuring that people are not isolated and do not have to experience a frightening brain tumour journey alone."

Also included in the New Year Honours List is Sara McIntosh, who becomes an MBE.

 Sara McIntosh (pictured second from right) at a previous event to promote JAAR within sport in Jersey.

Sara is founder and chairperson of Jersey Action Against Rape.

She set up JAAR in 2015, following the rape of her own daughter, to support and counsel sexual assault survivors.

It has developed into an independent and confidential service to help people recover from the trauma of sexual violence.

The charity now has a dedicated 7-days a week helpline, website and qualified counsellors and psychotherapists.

It has helped more than 350 people and delivered more than 3000 hours of specialised counselling.

Anthony (Tony) Allchurch is the third islander to be recognised for his work in King Charles III's first honours list.

He will be receiving the British Empire Medal from the Monarch for his services to the community with his work as part of Jersey's Rotary Club and The Jersey Fairtrade Island Group.

The JFIG was set up in 2003 and pushed for Jersey to become a Fairtrade Island, which it did 2005.  It works to promote ethical products.

Since the group formed, Mr Allchurch has been instrumental in increasing the number and range of Fairtrade products available in Jersey and educating islanders - particularly schoolchildren- about shopping choices that ensure farmers and manufacturers across the world are paid a fair price for their work. 

Anthony recalls the moment he was told he would get the award

"Out of the blue I got a phone call from the Lieutenant Governor singing my praises. 

My immediate reaction was one of modesty and surprise about my achievements and the I was truly appreciative."

Anthony Allchurch, second in from left, receiving a 'Rotary Champion of Change' award at the House of Lords

He is now looking at what to do in the next 12 months in the group

"With the JFIG the struggle really is to get people to understand that by supporting fairtrade.

It's not the case of giving a hand out to very poor communities across the world but actually giving a hand up to very hard working people who struggle.

Particularly against the effects of climate change, with extreme heat and long droughts that destroys the crops that we enjoy and can't grow here."

As a Rotarian, Mr Allchurch is a previous recipient of the Rotary Club of Great Britain Champion of Change award which recognised for his work in combating poverty, prejudice, bullying and conflict as part of the Rotary Peace Programme.

Part of the Rotary Clubs campaign is eradicating Polio, which will continue into 2023.

"It's one of my special responsibilities in the Jersey club, we were so close to finally eradicating Polio before the pandemic.

COVID has created a major obstacle to progress but now that we can largely manage the virus by vaccinating people we can get back to the final eradication of polio, which is so debilitating."