A FORMER ‘volunteer of the year’, an army major and a dental expert have been included in this year’s New Year’s Honours List for outstanding achievement and service.

Well-known volunteer Terry Bolt from Callington has been recognised for his services to the community in Cornwall with a British Empire Medal (BEM), Yelverton resident Major Aaron West has been honoured with an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for his work in the Ministry of Defence and Wendy Smith, from Gunnislake, has been awarded an MBE for her services to oral health care and dental education in the South West.

Stalwart community volunteer Terry, a walk leader with the Tavistock based Walk and Talk group, said he was delighted when he heard the news he was to receive a BEM. The 80-year-old and former ‘volunteer of the year’ for Cornwall in 2016 has been volunteering in the community for 40 years and for Macmillan Cancer Support since 2001.

Terry said: ‘I started volunteering 40 years ago when I joined the new Callington Lions Club and then when my wife died in 2001 I started to volunteer and raise money for Macmillan to help their wonderful service.

‘Since then I have raised £53,000 for the charity by completing the Inca Trail at Machu Picchu, and the Cape to Cape three times with a friend and with my MG.’

As a Living Well volunteer for Age UK Cornwall, Terry has set up a men’s lunch group known as ‘Blokes that Brunch’ which meets once a week and brings men together who would otherwise be socially isolated. He is also a ‘welcome home’ volunteer for Volunteer Cornwall and visits patients after they have been discharged from hospital and assesses their needs to keep them out of hospital and back on their feet.

‘I guess my whole time as a volunteer has been taken into consideration for the award,’ added Terry. ‘I was quite taken aback when I received the letter — I don’t go out of my way to receive awards like this but it is nice to be recognised. I know my family are over the moon — even my 105-year-old mother-in-law is very happy!

‘I want to thank everyone for their kind words and messages on this achievement.’

Officer Commanding A Company, 2nd Battalion The Rifles, Major Aaron West, who is coming to the end of a six-month deployment in Iraq training the Iraqi Security Forces, said it was a ‘complete surprise’ to be awarded an MBE.

Major West joined the army in 2004 commissioning into the Devon and Dorset Regiment (soon to become The Rifles with two other regiments) in 2005 and was immediately deployed to southern Iraq as a young platoon commander. He was then deployed to Sangin, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2009 and then again in 2013. In 2014 he was deployed in command of a training team to Sierra Leone, followed by completing the army’s staff officer training course prior to his posting to army headquarters head of capability combat where Major West, was fortunate enough to earn his MBE.

Major West said: ‘I know that all my family are very proud of me being awarded an MBE. It was a complete surprise, I worked extremely hard during my time at army headquarters but it’s still humbling to have had that hard work recognised like this. I’m looking forward to getting home and being able to celebrate with them all soon.

‘I have been very fortunate to be inundated with loads of kind messages and congratulations.’

Wendy Smith is the strategic lead and founding member of the community engagement team at the newly-formed Plymouth health charity Well Connected within Plymouth University’s Peninsula Dental School. Much of her career has been defined by collaborating with groups, individuals and organisations who support those people that face inequality or disadvantage in accessing dental treatment and oral healthcare. 

Wendy’s work in helping to create the Well Connected charity grew out of the unique community engagement model that she helped to establish over the last ten years with colleagues in the Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry.

Wendy said: ‘I am delighted to be receiving this award and am accepting it in recognition of the work we have all done to raise the profile of oral health in the community and to support the education of health professionals for the 21st century.

• A TAVISTOCK man has received a commendation in the New Year’s Honours List for his role with the RAF air cadets.

Officer commanding 2312 (Tavistock) Squadron RAF Air Cadets John Olver has been awarded a deputy commander commend-ation for his work at Tavistock ATC over a period of 50 years.

Sqn Ldr Olver joined the cadets in 1965, became an officer in May 1971 and is now on his third duty as commanding officer of the squadron, as well as sector commander for Ivybridge and Okehampton.

On receiving his commendation, Sqn Ldr Olver said it was ‘very nice’ to receive the award and praised all involved with the air cadets.

‘I am very lucky that I have a dedicated team of staff and volunteers who have helped me — I have a really good team here at the squadron,’ he said.’

After hearing news on the many members of the air cadets who have received awards in the NYHL, air commodore of the ATC Dawn McCafferty, took to Facebook and said: ‘Absolutely thrilled to see so many of our people recognised in the NYHL 18 — these are but a small proportion of the amazing staff and volunteers whose efforts on behalf of our organisation have been formally recognised.

‘We should also pay tribute to the partners and families of those who receive such awards as they would not be possible without the love and support of those at home who allow our staff and volunteers to do such amazing work with our cadets.’