Herefordshire people have been recognised in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours list.

The highest award has gone to Kevin Ebsworth who becomes an MBE for his services to Armed Forces Veterans and charity in Hereford.

He is a veteran of the 1982 Falklands Conflict at age 68. In 2010 he became the treasurer of the Herefordshire branch of the Armed Forces Charity, the SSAFA.

He has orchestrated multiple fundraising opportunities, including four concerts in Hereford Cathedral, and veterans’ commemorative events across Herefordshire. He has also been voluntary treasurer at the night shelter, Hope Scott House, for multiple years where he has overseen the £400,000 refurbishment of a wing on the premises.

Alan Gordon Blake, 92, has been awarded a BEM for services to the community in Hereford. He has helped to raise vast sums of money for various charities. He first became a member of a charity, the Hereford Rotary Club, in 1968 and was later given presidency in 1979.

He is one of the 6 Rotarians who, collectively, have over 200 years of service. Over this time, it has been estimated that they have overseen £400,000 of fundraising through various initiatives such as street collections, charity dinners and Christmas hamper donations.

In October 2020, he began his ‘Everest Climb’ walk for charity after inspiration from Captain Sir Tom Moore. He has currently climbed 72,000 of the steep steps of his garden from his 100,000 aim.

By doing so he has raised over £29,000 for 3 causes: the Rotary Club, his local Parish Church, Burghill Church, and for people suffering from Parkinson’s disease. The money will be split equally.

Jeffery John Kramer has also received a BEM at 86 years old for his part in founding a local hospice and for his services to Hospice Care in Herefordshire.

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He was co-founder of well-known charity, St Michaels Hospice, a brave decision that he made with other inspirational locals. The funding for this project took many years however officially opened in 1984.

His support and involvement in its recent £12 million redevelopment played a vital role in delivering the project on time.

The Cabinet Office wrote, “The impact of having such an extraordinary Hospice, in what is a relatively poor and rural County, stands as testament to the extraordinary commitment that he and his fellow co-founders displayed”.