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Medals and First Light parade as Suffolk celebrates

Medals and First Light parade as Suffolk celebrates

BBC News21-06-2025
Five men will be honoured for making "a positive and lasting difference" as their county celebrates its achievements.The Suffolk Medal will be handed out in Lowestoft to "county champions" on Saturday, before the First Light festival gets under way.Wilfrid George, who worked to reopen footpaths and created hand-drawn maps of the area, is one of the five recipients."This unique award only goes to the very best of the best, whose extraordinary contribution to life in Suffolk we are all so very proud and grateful for," said Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, Clare Fitzroy.
Ms Fitzroy, Countess of Euston, will present the medals during Suffolk Day – an annual event that began in 2017.The Suffolk Community Foundation organises the event to bring together schools, businesses and residents "to celebrate the people, places, traditions and institutions which make the county so special".
The other four recipients are:Phil Aves - the figurehead for Lowestoft Rising, a partnership that promoted wellbeing and mental health among vulnerable people in particularAndrew Harston - who dedicated his working life to developing the UK's seaportsMartin Seeley - former Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, who has inspired diverse congregations and communitiesMark Pendlington - a Deputy Lieutenant of Suffolk who has "played a major role in many aspects of Suffolk life", including business, education and sustainability
Hannah Bloom, the chief executive of Suffolk Community Foundation, said: "The medal recognises and rewards the people whose exceptional contributions have made a measurable and lasting difference to Suffolk, and is the highest honour that can be made by Suffolk to an individual."There are so many wonderful people in our county so please do consider nominating if you know of someone who is doing something above and beyond."It would be especially lovely to see a diverse range of medal recipients next year."
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