Lieutenant-General Andrew Ridgway welcomed them to Government House to thank them for their contributions to the Fire and Rescue Service, the military, and the Women’s Land Army.
With the Chief Minister and Home Affairs Minister in attendance, Gen Ridgway made the presentations and spoke to his guests and their families along with his wife, Valerie.
He said that it was only fitting to pay tribute to men and women who had made a significant contribution to the community.
Rafael Beddoe, Shaun Mead and Andrew Garnier were all awarded the Fire Service Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
Lieut-Col Tim Daniels received the United States of America Bronze Star Medal for his service in Iraq as Assistant Chief of Staff of the Multi-National Security Transition Command.
Kathleen Walkling was presented with the Women’s Land Army Badge in recognition of her work during the Second World War.
Mr Beddoe fulfilled a boyhood dream by joining the Fire Service as a retained firefighter in 1989 after seven years in the army with the Royal Hampshire Regiment.
After becoming a full-time firefighter in 1991, he rose through the ranks to the role of sub officer in 2004 and now works for the Fire Safety Department.
He has attended several large incidents in the Island and in 2000, was driving the first vehicle to arrive at the massive La Cala fire.
Mr Mead, a satellite installation engineer from Lewes in Sussex, has been a retained firefighter for 20 years.
He received the Chief Officer’s commendation in 2006 for his part in leading a team of retained firefighters at a blaze at the Royal Hotel, in David Place.
His actions helped to save the lives of staff and holidaymakers who were still inside the building.
After the presentation, Mr Mead said he was proud to have served the Island’s community.
Although self-employed, he expressed his admiration for employers who allow their staff time off work to fulfil their duties as part of the retained force.
Andrew Garnier joined the Fire Service as a retained firefighter in 1989, and was placed in the same watch as Mr Beddoe.
In addition to his day job as a contracts manager for a local building company, Mr Garnier has attended most of the serious blazes in the Island over the past 20 years including both fires at the Hotel de France and last year’s fire at Broadlands.
Lieut-Col Tim Daniels played a pivotal role in the move towards Iraqi sovereignty in overseeing the expansion of the Iraqi Security Forces and led a major review into the planning of the Iraq campaign.
He said that he was delighted and surprised to receive the news that he was to receive the award.
Now retired after 23 years of active service, Lieut-Col Daniels works for law firm Ogier.
Mrs Walkling was presented with the Women’s Land Army Badge in recognition of her work during the Second World War.
The Land Girls, or the Women’s Land Army, were formed at the outbreak of the war to work on the land, allowing the male workers to join the armed forces.
She was evacuated to Wakefield from Jersey before moving north to Glasgow. She joined the Women’s Land Army as a teenager and went to work on a farm near Kilmarnock, in Ayrshire. There she served as the only Land Girl for two years, attending to the fields and livestock, before returning to the Island with her family at the end of the war.
She said that she had very fond memories of Scotland and her time with the Women’s Land Army, and was very pleased to receive her award.
