Our member Pam Duxbury says she鈥檚 鈥渢hrilled and delighted鈥� to receive the British Empire Medal in the Queen鈥檚 Jubilee Birthday Honours.
Pam, service manager for Beacon Bolton Counselling, receives the medal for services to the community.
And she admitted she thought it was a hoax when she was told about her award.
鈥淚鈥檓 absolutely thrilled and delighted,鈥� she said. 鈥淭o receive an honour from such a high level is fantastic.
鈥淎s counsellors, we never set out to be recognised or to make a name for ourselves, and this came out of the blue.
鈥淚鈥檝e worked hard and been loyal to the organisation and very committed, but it doesn鈥檛 seem enough for such a high award.
鈥淚鈥檓 slowly coming back down from cloud nine,鈥� she added.
Our member Pam Duxbury received the British Empire Medal in the Queen鈥檚 Jubilee Birthday Honours
Pam said that she doesn鈥檛 know who nominated her for the award.
鈥淚 got a telephone call in April to say I鈥檇 been nominated and to ask if I鈥檇 like to accept it,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n truth I thought it might be a hoax.
鈥淔irst of all there was the shock, then I was excited, then I thought 鈥榟ang on a minute鈥�.
鈥淚 went through a roller coaster of emotions in a telephone call that lasted a few minutes.鈥�
Pam, who has been service manager since 2015, said she trained to be a counsellor after her own positive experience of counselling.
鈥淚 came to counselling late,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he thing that brought me to counselling was having counselling myself in 2005.
鈥淚 learned so much about myself during that time.
鈥淚f I鈥檇 had that when I was in my teens, and my 20s and 30s 鈥� It was invaluable.
鈥淚t was such a positive experience.鈥�
Pam鈥檚 British Empire Medal comes a year after Beacon Bolton Counselling received the Queen鈥檚 Award for Voluntary Services.
Kathryn Gough, Andrew Gill and Meg Gough attended a Buckingham Palace garden party
Our members Andrew Gill and Meg Gough, and Beacon volunteer Kathryn Gough attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May. They were joined by the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Wessex.
Andrew said he was honoured and humbled to represent the service .
鈥淚t was a truly wonderful day out,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was a joy to see the gardens and the incredible array of people from all walks of life.鈥�
Members' achievements recognised in Honours lists
Edith Fleck has been made an MBE and Pete Barty (pictured right) has received a British Empire Medal
Member hopes MBE will help raise the profile of mental health
Hardip Lawana says "it will be a pleasure to meet a royal" when he receives his award
Member speaks of his honour at receiving an OBE
Dr Ramesh Pattni's award is recognition for services to interfaith relations and the Hindu community in the UK