The Suffolk Medal Recipients 

Martin has made an unparalleled impact on the county’s heritage and his international reputation is unrivalled. As a ground-breaking archaeologist, he has played an instrumental role in unveiling further secrets of Sutton Hoo, again catapulting the site onto the world stage and cementing its reputation as one of the richest archaeological finds discovered in Northern Europe and an open window onto the Anglo-Saxon world. Since then, the burial ground has enticed numerous visitors to the county, not only boosting tourism and the local economy but also placing Suffolk firmly on the map for its historical and cultural importance.

Martin was born in Glasgow in 1941 and followed in the footsteps of both of his grandfathers by pursuing a career in the military and attending Sandhurst aged just 17. After spending 15 years as an officer with the Royal Tank Regiment and serving in Germany, Aden, Malaya and Borneo, Martin’s career took a significant change in direction. He added to his UCL Mathematics and Chemistry degree by completing a diploma in Anglo-Saxon Archaeology at the University of Durham before becoming an archaeologist, working freelance until 1986. During this time, he successfully applied to direct a challenging and ambitious new field programme at Sutton Hoo, impressing the interview panel with his vision, energy and infectious enthusiasm. Leslie Webster, a member of the Sutton Hoo Research Trust, was among those to recruit Martin and remembers the day fondly. She said: “(We needed) a brilliant field archaeologist who would combine vision, energy and determination with the leadership skills of a tank commander, an expert in early medieval cultural history, a fundraising genius with a shameless talent for publicity and an all-round intellectual…when Martin swung through the doors exuding that irrepressible mixture of confidence, authority and exuberance…we knew we had our man.”

Over the next decade, Martin adopted a sensitive and pioneering approach to analysing Sutton Hoo which has been admired by experts from across the world. Making good use of his boundless energy, he inspired and enthused his team as they used innovative techniques to dissect six mounds not excavated in 1938/9 and to solve the mystery of the second ship. Under Martin’s leadership, the group also discovered two previously unknown execution cemeteries, where men and women were put to death by the Christian authorities of the 8th to 11th centuries. When he was not excavating, Martin turned his attention to publicising the work taking place at Sutton Hoo on TV, at conferences and in the media, in turn helping to attract the funding needed to secure it for future generations to enjoy. Indeed, Martin’s influence at the site was so great that it earned him the nickname of “the new King f Sutton Hoo” among some of his contemporaries.

Martin went on to write and co-author various reports on the discoveries at Sutton Hoo, along with several books which have been heralded for their accessibility and wide appeal. These publications have helped expose the dramatic history of the site to a brand-new audience, in turn further strengthening the county’s reputation and attracting even more visitors from around the globe. Martin also created the Sutton Hoo Society in 1984, as well as playing a key role in the land’s transfer into the ownership of the National Trust in 1999 and ensuring its continued conservation.

Recognising his world-leading expertise, the University of York appointed Martin as its Professor of Archaeology mid-way through the Sutton Hoo campaign. Despite never having taught before, he embraced the opportunity and quickly began creating his own courses to inspire the next generation. This further strengthened his reputation as an original thinker and generous mentor who was always ready to embrace new ideas while sharing his own with others. Martin retired after 22 years at the university, but still continues to write and edit archaeology books which are highly regarded by students and his peers alike.

Martin lives in Yorkshire with his partner, Madeleine Hummler, so whilst not a permanent local resident, his connections to Suffolk remain strong to this day. As well as regularly lecturing in the county, he plays a full and active role as a trustee – and former chair – of Woodbridge-based charity The Sutton Hoo Ship’s Company, which is using authentic methods to reconstruct the King’s ship which was buried at the site for 13 centuries.

Once complete, the 90-foot replica will go on to grace the River Deben, celebrating our Anglo-Saxon maritime heritage and marking the start of the next chapter of the captivating story of Sutton Hoo which Martin has played such a considerable part in bringing to life.

Since moving to Suffolk 45 years ago, John has devoted his life to shaping a county of which to be proud. As well as contributing to community groups, volunteering with local charities and supporting heritage organisations, he has dedicated himself to enhancing the county town of Ipswich while inspiring the next generation with his passion for education.

John’s love of buildings was nurtured during his school days, where he developed problem- solving abilities, practical skills and an in-depth knowledge of construction materials which went on to play a huge part in both his working life and personal interests. Although he began his career in the construction industry, John decided to change focus and complete his teacher training at Bolton College after realising his calling lay with education. This helped him to recognise the value of continuing development, prompting him to go on to study for professional membership of the Chartered Institute of Building and a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing, as well as a Master of Business Administration.

John was given the chance to combine his two passions of teaching and construction when he joined Suffolk College in 1979. Before long, he had been promoted to Head of Construction, and went on to fulfil various senior roles over the next 30 years before project managing the £75m scheme to build Suffolk New College. But John’s influence on Ipswich’s townscape didn’t end there. As a member of the Waterfront Partnership Group, he also played a key role in transforming Ipswich docks into the thriving and cosmopolitan Waterfront which is enjoyed by so many people today.

John’s commitment to the town and its heritage was cemented in the early 1980s when, together with wife Christine, he became a member of the Ipswich Society. The group gave him a valuable opportunity to champion the preservation of important historical buildings while encouraging sympathetic, high quality new builds which fit appropriately with their surroundings. In 2012, John was elected chairman and used the role to benefit individuals and communities across the area with his unfaltering dedication and well-considered views. Indeed, his impact on the town and the wellbeing of its residents has been so significant that John was granted Freedom of the Borough by the Major of Ipswich in 2023.

Contributing not only to our landscape but also to supporting our young people is another passion for John. Together with Christine, he has welcomed numerous foster children into his home to live alongside his own three children, while running the Ipswich Foster Care Association to give information and support to other prospective carers. John has also had a significant influence on many other young lives by leading groups of college students on climbing expeditions, working with youth groups across Ipswich and supporting the local scouts with fundraising events.

John’s altruism also saw him join the Rotary Club of Ipswich in 2001 and serve as president just over a decade later. Over several years, he arranged club visits to businesses and places of interest, as well as showcasing the beautiful Suffolk countryside during group walks. John has also shared his extensive knowledge of Ipswich’s history by giving regular talks to the group, many of which were enriched with interesting insights and background gathered during his celebrated career. In addition, he enlisted the skills of his Rotary colleagues to help the Bike Active charity – which provides cycling opportunities for adults with disabilities – with various construction projects, in turn using his contacts from one organisation to help meet the needs of another. This unwavering service to Rotary and the wider community was later recognised when he was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship in 2016.

Throughout the past four decades, John has made a unique and outstanding contribution to Suffolk. His commendable ability to understand and protect Ipswich’s heritage over many years has made a lasting difference, not just to its appearance and amenities but also to the quality of life of those who call the town their home.

Through the legacy he has left as a teacher and his passion for buildings – both old and new – John continues to have a profound and positive impact on the communities of Suffolk.

Jonathan is a true Suffolk man, born in Southwold in the late 1950’s within sight and sound of the sea, he has influenced the world of Brewing, Business, and Community Action from his Southwold home on the East Suffolk Coast. It was indeed the sea that shaped the young Jonathan. From a very early age he harboured the desire to become a deep-sea trawler skipper. After a minor skirmish and negotiation about ‘O’ levels with his father, who was a profound and supportive influence on his life, he was able to fulfil his early ambition and enjoy a year at sea fishing. The other side of that bargain was that Jonathan would spend time learning to become a chartered surveyor at Southampton, Estate Management College. Jonathan didn’t know it at the time, but this learning would serve him well later in life and his career. As with many successful businesspeople academia was never going to become a passion for him and the call of the sea was strong and by the early 1970’s he was delivering RNLI lifeboats around the coast of the UK. By the age of 17 he was also a member of the Southwold Lifeboat Crew. He went on to become Senior Helmsman/Coxswain over what was to become a 40-year association with the RNLI where he was involved in more than 200 service calls and the lifeboat being recorded in rescuing 168 souls. So began the early signs of an enduring quality that is all about putting others safety and security before that of his own.

A determined father finally convinced Jonathan that he should join the family business as an apprentice brewery engineer. In true Adnams fashion there were no privileges, and this young man was destined to learn the family business far away from the boardroom, from the vantage point of the shop floor. Any advancement would be on merit. After a few years of hard work advancement came first as Distribution Director soon to be followed by his becoming the Director responsible for Adnams Pubs. This connected him and the business with communities and the notion of the central role pubs play in their localities. Under Jonathan’s leadership the Adnams Pub estate expanded, and the foundations were laid for the successful portfolio of community centred pubs that Adnams owns today. He latterly became Managing Director and in 2006 became Chairman. The 1990’s saw the formation of the Adnams Community Trust and since its inception Jonathan has been a trustee and is its longest standing Chair. Small gifts and donations, to often unfashionable good causes who might otherwise go unrecognised, is a defining principle of the now named Adnams Community Trust. During his tenure Jonathan has presided over the distribution of approximately £1.75m in funding throughout Suffolk.

It is perhaps in Brewing, Distilling and Sustainability that Jonathan is known beyond Suffolk. During his tenures as MD and then Chairman the Company has innovated in its processes, plant and equipment, lowered its environmental impacts and is lauded as one of the most sustainable businesses of its type in the world. This was evidenced in 2006 by CNN’s global news network transmitting the Adnams story to the world for a whole day when the businesses new eco-distribution centre was opened in July of that year. A new brewhouse with world leading sustainability and low water use credentials was opened in 2007 and these things ultimately saw Jonathan recognised nationally with an OBE in 2009. The work continued and the Copper House Distillery opened in 2010. Adnams has been the recipient of three Queens awards for Enterprise, Sustainable Development, the last being awarded fittingly in 2022, the year of Adnams 150th anniversary. Not only focussed on plant and processes, the business, under Jonathan’s leadership also received global awards for its products with Adnams Copper House Gin being named ‘world’s best’ in 2013 by the International Wine and Spirits Association, followed by Adnams Vodka receiving the same award in 2014.

At heart Jonathan is a local man, he rides his bike to work daily, he spends time in local pubs and his quiet unassuming style belies the fact that he has made and continues to make a wonderful impact. He is committed to improving the world for people, the good of the planet and the prosperity of communities, particularly, in his beloved home County of Suffolk.

Rebecca is a passionate advocate of refugee rights and has made an outstanding contribution to improving the lives of asylum seekers and refugees in the county for nearly 25 years. As a passionate contributor to the development of refugee services within Suffolk, Rebecca has been CEO of Suffolk Refugee Support since 2005.

Moving to Suffolk with her family as a baby, she enjoyed a wonderful upbringing by the sea in Felixstowe and the surrounding beautiful countryside. She was educated at Deben High School and went on to graduate from Nottingham University with a BA (Hons) in Psychology.
During her childhood, Rebecca developed an interest in international cultures, partly as a result of her father’s extensive travels as a chemical engineer. Her university studies further cultivated her empathy for those forced to migrate across the world.

After leaving university, Rebecca returned to Suffolk and started working for the Refugee Council in 2000. Her initial role involved supporting the dispersal of asylum seekers across the country and highlighted to her the need to understand their specific needs and wants rather than simply following “policy”. This sometimes put her at odds with the authorities as she fought for better outcomes for her clients. An opportunity arose in 2005 to take a role with Suffolk Refugee Support (a local independent charity) and she soon became the charity’s manager and subsequently CEO.

At that time, Suffolk was a relative newcomer to the diverse populations of refugees settling in the UK from countries such as Kosovo, Iraq, Sudan and Afghanistan. Rebecca could see the issues that were emerging at that time. There were some cultural challenges on both sides as new arrivals familiarised themselves with their new life. Suffolk also was discovering what help was needed to support people to thrive and become integrated, contributing members of the community.

Rebecca remembers a situation which highlights the challenges. A client had been separated for a long period from his wife and two children and he was being heavily criticised by local officials for not having a home ready for them when they finally arrived in Suffolk. The man had lost everything in his home country and had narrowly escaped execution at the hands of his persecutors. His wife and young children had fled for their lives and had been separated from him in another neighbouring country. The officer who criticised the man had no experience or understanding and therefore no empathy for his situation, having never encountered a refugee before. Rebecca has made it her mission to encourage understanding and ensure that misunderstandings like this are fewer and quickly overcome.
As a key figure raising the profile and needs of refugees in Suffolk, Rebecca has been consistently successful in raising substantial funding locally and nationally. This has allowed Suffolk Refugee Support to greatly increase its resource and provide sustainable and deeper support to many more people.

Rebecca is keen to showcase the talent and skills that refugees bring to Suffolk and gets an enormous sense of pride when she meets her ex-clients who are now working and contributing to the local economy.
In 2019, Rebecca was given the High Sheriff’s Inspiring Leader award and later in the same year she was made an Honorary Fellow of the University of Suffolk.

Rebecca lives just outside Felixstowe in Trimley St Mary with her partner Richard. She enjoys playing the violin and is a founder member of Suffolk Community Strings, a friendly orchestra encouraging amateur adults to return to playing an instrument. In her spare time, Rebecca enjoys the Suffolk countryside, especially Rendlesham Forest and the coastline. In the summer she loves to have a dip in the North Sea, camping, music festivals and growing her own vegetables.

Maggi Hambling CBE (born 1945, Suffolk) is a contemporary artist of local, national and international acclaim, but to whom Suffolk roots are of an abiding importance.

Maggi’s first art school was at Benton End where she studied with the artists Lett-Haines and Cedric Morris, and then Ipswich, Camberwell and the Slade Schools of Art.

In 1980 she was the First Artist in Residence at the National Gallery, London, followed by a solo exhibition (Max Wall) at the National Portrait Gallery in 1983.  In 1985 she won the Jerwood Painting Prize (with Patrick Caulfield).

Museum exhibitions include: Maggi Hambling, Serpentine Gallery, London, 1987 –  An Eye Through A Decade, Yale Center for British Art, Newhaven, Connecticut, 1991 – A Matter of Life and Death, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, 1997 and George Always, The Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, 2009. In 1998 her sculpture A conversation with Oscar Wilde was unveiled at Adelaide Street, London, facing Charing Cross Station.

In 2003 Scallop, a public sculpture to celebrate Benjamin Britten was unveiled in Aldeburgh, Suffolk for which she was awarded the Marsh Award for Excellence in Public Sculpture.

Public sculpture also include: The Brixton Heron, 2010, Brixton, London, The Resurrection Spirit, 2013, St Dunstan’s Church, Mayfield – the Winchester Tapestries unveiled at Winchester Cathedral, also in 2013 and a sculpture for Mary Wollstonecraft which was unveiled in London in 2020.

Solo exhibitions include Maggi Hambling – The Wave, the Fitzwilliam, Cambridge, 2010 – War Requiem, Installation, SNAP Art at the Aldeburgh Festival 2013 (purchased for Aldeburgh Music by the Monument Trust) and Wall of Water, The Hermitage, St Petersburg, Russia, also in 2013.

In 2014, Maggi returned to the National Gallery, London, having been the first Artist in Residence in 1980, for the solo show entitled Walls of Water.  War Requiem & Aftermath was shown at Somerset House, London in 2015. In 2016/17 Hambling was given the rare and significant honour for a living artist of a retrospective at the British Museum of her works on paper entitled Touch.  Her work was the subject of two major retrospective museum shows in China (Beijing and Guangzhou) in 2019 and earlier this year she opened a show in New York.

A number of her works are held in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery, London. Other important public collections that hold her work include the Ashmolean Museum, British Museum, Fitzwilliam Museum, Jerwood Collection, National Gallery, Scottish Gallery of Modern Art, Victoria & Albert Museum, Whitworth, Tate and the Metropolitan Museum in New York.

Maggi’s work continues with unflinching and unremitting energy to explore the challenging subjects of life/death, war, conflict, and global warming, which add not just to the artistic vitality of the UK but to a wider global discourse on those subjects and the essential role that art has to play. The emotional breadth and depth of her work speaks to people of every walk in life.

Her proactive support of a number of national charities continues include Stonewall and the Terence Higgins Trust, whilst locally she has demonstrated a quiet but strong ongoing commitment to numerous Suffolk charities and local causes including giving generously of her time as Patron of Gainsborough’s House in Sudbury.

Of Maggi’s selfless commitment to teaching she says “My aim is to encourage students to realise their own personal vision, by the discipline of training the eye, the hand and the heart to act as one.  People from all ages from all walks of life are offered the chance to discover the selves they never knew they had.’’

Maggi Hambling’s independence of fashion and adherence to her own search for the truth in her work are rare.  She was invited to design and create The Suffolk Medal in 2017 not only because these qualities see her standing among our County’s greatest artists of all time, but also because she lives a life that so clearly exudes the outstanding qualities required to be its latest recipient.

James has dedicated his life to three main passions: his farm and its wider environment, Suffolk and its residents, and championing local philanthropy. Underpinning all of these is his commercial acumen and commitment to business in the county. James is married to Heather with three children, Charlie, Thomas and Emma, all of whom share his passion for the county and rural life.

His career has been predominantly in the waste recycling and renewable energy industries. He owns a variety of companies which include those in hospitality and the manufacturing sector. James set up Neatworld (now Global Recycling Solutions Limited) when he was just 28 years old selling shredders for recycling tyres. Always conscious of enabling the next generation in the workplace, he consistently supports young people through the creation of apprenticeships, work experience and educational visits across his businesses.

James started planting trees and laying hedges on the farm over 30 years ago. To date he has planted more than 250,000 trees and 35 km of hedges. Those that know James understand his passion for reinvigorating the Suffolk landscape comes from a deep-seated sense of responsibility and stewardship of the land. Every summer he leads the annual farm tours and recently set up volunteering placements with Hadleigh High School on the farm for the Duke of Edinburgh Award. The farm and surrounding villages have thrived because of James’ care of the land and employment of local people. In the countryside pubs are often at the heart of a village so when two pubs were failing James committed considerable time and resources to ensure these were saved for the community to enjoy.

James’ unfailing generosity extends to the use of his deep commercial knowledge to drive growth in the charitable sector in Suffolk. He chaired the Suffolk Community Foundation for several years until 2019, substantially increasing its financial reserves taking it from strength to strength and increasing support for VCSE organisations and their work to address need in Suffolk. In 2011 James set up, and continues to chair, The Porch Project. This is a Hadleigh-based young people’s charity offering a wide range of youth work programmes providing tireless support to those in need.

In 2009 James was High Sheriff of Suffolk. His legacy to this role was the establishment of The High Sheriff Fund at the Suffolk Community Foundation which supports a grants programme and the annual High Sheriff Awards – recognising the contribution VCSE organisations and their volunteers make to the community. He was also vice chair of the East Anglian Air Ambulance in 2014 to 2016 having been a trustee from 2012.

James has a natural ability to draw people together from all walks of life and the rare talent of using that support to initiate change for good. He currently leads on ‘Children and Young People in the County’ for the Lord Lieutenant, developing the Suffolk Youth Project to facilitate communications and partnerships between organisations serving the young people of Suffolk.

As a founder member, and subsequently Chair of the BSC Multicultural Services (previously known as Bangladeshi Support Centre), Boshor Ali has spent more than 25 years working tirelessly to inspire the staff and trustee team in delivering the vision and values of community service.

Boshor was born in 1971 in Sylhet, Bangladesh, but grew up in Ipswich where he completed his early education. He established a strong connection to Ipswich and started his working life in Suffolk as an engineering student before switching to catering. Tremendous tenacity and singlemindedness meant that inevitably he worked his way up from being a waiter to becoming a successful local businessman. Boshor has drawn on these same qualities to help found BSC Multicultural Services. Throughout this time, Boshor has been motivated by the need to support others to achieve their aspirations. As a proud British citizen his aim has been to make sure that others have the same opportunity to become successful in their own right. As a man of faith, in addition to the above, Boshor has served as secretary of Shahjalal Mosque and Islamic Centre for many years. He is an assistant treasurer of Ipswich and Suffolk Muslim Council. He was the founder of Muslim Youth Forum, and currently serves as chairman of Ipswich Bangladeshi Cultural Group, a group maintaining the traditions of Bangladeshi music, drama and poetry.
Boshor has a clear vision of the Bangladeshi community as an integral part of the community throughout the whole of Suffolk. Over the years, this has meant that the organisation Boshor helped to set up has been responsive to wider and differing needs, and has become a source of support to all in Suffolk regardless of faith or ethnic origin. As a result the organisation has won a multitude of awards for providing an outstanding service to thousands of people of diverse backgrounds throughout Suffolk.
Inequality as the result of poverty and exclusion, and especially health inequalities have been central to Boshor’s dedication as an advocate on others’ behalf. He has given willingly and generously of his time promoting BSC Multicultural Services and enabling the raising of funds to support its work in helping people and bringing communities together. As a recent example, during the period of Covid restrictions he promoted the organisation so that funding was obtained to support isolated people, providing food and information on how to prevent the spread of the virus and stay healthy. The team was therefore able to ensure that people in communities experiencing significant barriers to integration had access to the services they so desperately needed. Boshor supported and encouraged, showing all the qualities and characteristics needed to maintain this devotion and dedication and strengthening a shared and deepened belief in the work of the organisation. Throughout its existence that passion and vision coming from Boshor Ali has been central to the success and longevity of BSC Multicultural Services.

While Boshor has remained wholly dedicated to work in our local communities of Ipswich and Suffolk, he has not forgotten his roots. In 2005, he formed the Al-Tazid Foundation. This Ipswich-based charity, named after Boshor’s late father, helps the poor and needy across the Sylhet region of Bangladesh. The Foundation’s projects include free health clinics, clean water projects, free wheel chairs for the disabled, projects to create sustainable employment, winter clothing provision and educational support for schools, as well as to students from poor backgrounds. Through its fundraising outreach, Al Tazid Foundation connects Suffolk people with others across the globe. Indeed, a monthly free health clinic recently created by the Foundation was launched by Tom Hunt, the MP for Ipswich, while visiting Sylhet, enabling generous coverage in local and national media in Bangladesh and UK: A reminder to us all of our close human connections even across continents, and how social and community work is a common factor in making everyone’s lives better – both those who give as well as those who benefit.

Clare Marx is a Suffolk pioneer; a true leader and exemplar for the medical sector and for professional women. She has had a stellar career in the medical profession and has achieved several very distinguished firsts in her career – for instance, the first woman to become: President of The British Orthopaedic Association; President of The Royal College of Surgeons; and Chairman of the General Medical Council. She has a deep love for Suffolk and its communities, having served for nearly three decades as a trauma and orthopaedic (T&O) surgeon and medical leader at Ipswich Hospital; a person who inspires and mentors young people to join the medical profession; and someone who cares deeply about the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of everyone in Suffolk. She combines a deep understanding of strategic, organisational and governance issues with a passion for raising the standard of medical leadership for the benefit of all patients across Suffolk and the United Kingdom.

Clare qualified in medicine from the University College London Medical School in 1977. Her early surgical training was in London. Her specialist T&O training was in London and the Midlands and then she completed a training in hip and knee replacement at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts (USA). She became a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at St Mary’s and St Charles’s hospitals with particular interest in early surgical education.

After her marriage to Andrew Fane it became clear that a move to Suffolk was the desirable and right thing and in 1993 she moved jobs becoming the first woman surgeon at the Ipswich Hospital and indeed in East Anglia. Within a year she was clinical director of the combined A&E, Trauma & Orthopaedics and Rheumatology directorate at Ipswich Hospital which she held for the next 4 years. During that time she championed the role of peripheral hospitals and with the support of her colleagues they were able to grow the standing, reputation and size of the department for the benefit of the entire community. On arrival at Ipswich she started the highly successful hospital women’s dining group (to the amusement of her male colleagues). This met for some years to introduce and give encouragement, support and fun to the women clinicians of the hospital at a time when there were fewer women working in those clinical roles.

Also, in those early days she served as a school governor, particularly encouraging girls to opt for a career in clinical sciences and medicine.
Understanding that clinical leadership improved standards, she served on most of the hospital groups, from waiting lists to Estates, clinical governance to car parking! Later she chaired the Local Negotiating Committee and the hospital Medical Staff Committee. Throughout this time she welcomed students from the local area to work experience attachments, trying to instill in them enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge.

Always keen to progress education for the next generation Clare became a member of the British Orthopaedic Education committee and chaired the Specialist Advisory Committee on T&O training for the Royal Surgical Colleges. She was elected to the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) Council and became President of the BOA for 2008-09. She was then elected to the Council of the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS)in 2009.

Two years later she was made Chair of the RCS and invited to review the mechanism which carried out peer review to improve standards of poorly performing units and surgeons across the UK. In 2013 she became associate Medical Director at Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust with a special remit for revalidation and appraisal, having ceased active orthopaedic practice in March 2014.

Clare was elected President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in July 2014 for 3 years, the first woman ever to have held this role. She was then Chair of the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management from 2017 – 2018 resigning from this when in 2019 she was appointed Chair of the GMC, again the first woman in this role, a position from which she retired in 2021 as a result of illness.
During her tenure as chair, she was able to influence the culture and approach of the medical community, emphasising the need for teamwork rather than individual achievement and recognising the need for supportive clinical communities, for care teams, for generosity, and for positive working environments. Her work to establish teams and collaborative working is nowadays pivotal to surgical professionalism and to delivering excellent patient care. The guidance document published under her watch at the RCS has impacted every operation performed in the UK. Her emphasis on team working, communication and safe systems made for safe surgery, saving lives in operating theatres across the country.

She has received the following honours:

• 2007 Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to medicine.
• 2008 Deputy Lieutenant of Suffolk.
• Honorary degrees from the Universities of Exeter, Bristol , Leeds and University College London for services to medicine.
• Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (FRCSI),Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians in Glasgow, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Royal College of Physicians and the British Orthopaedic Association.
• Hon memberships of Edinburgh Physicians, Edinburgh Surgeons overseas Honorary Fellowship of the American Surgical College and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
• 2018 Dame of the British Empire.
• 2021 Court of Patrons of Royal College of Surgeons of England

As a young boy in the 1950’s, living in the small village of Alderton, Nigel was first introduced to a Suffolk Horse when, one morning, local land owner Sir Cuthbert Quilter’s string of Suffolks were led through the community. This first encounter with the horse, affectionately known as ‘The Suffolk Punch’ due to its short, stocky and powerful build, turned into a life-long passion to fight for the very survival of this true icon of Suffolk and Category One – critically endangered breed.
Marriage, three children and a successful business in civil engineering were to come first but, in 1983, when only 240 horses remained registered, Nigel seized his first opportunity to make a difference. Realising that his ambitions needed to be greater than simply becoming an owner of a Suffolk Horse, he purchased 7 acres of land at Withersfield and introduced both a mare and a young filly to the smallholding. This was to become the foundation of his stud.
Nigel’s drive and ambitions for this project grew quickly and in 1987 he purchased Rede Hall Farm Park, 60 acres of land in the village of Rede, just outside Bury St Edmunds.

Early in the 1980’s Nigel became a Trustee and then President of the Suffolk Horse Society. As the breed grew in number and continued to work the land at Rede Hall, Nigel also undertook show training and extended this provision to Society members. In partnership with the charity and others across the country, Nigel also embarked on a wider breeding programme at Rede Hall which produced 59 foals and increased his own stock to sixteen. He also expanded his interests, introducing the two other members of ‘The Suffolk Trinity’ to Rede Hall – Red Poll cattle and Suffolk sheep.

In 2004 Nigel invited The Millennium Farm Trust to take up residence inviting adults with both physical and learning disabilities to the farm to enjoy the countryside, learn how to grow produce and work with the livestock including the Suffolk’s. Nigel’s passion for using the land to improve people’s lives also then extended to supporting the development of their professional skills. As the holder of both a rural and urban Equine Driving Certificates, he offered his expertise to the students at both Otley College and Writtle Agricultural College of Equine Studies.

During a lifetime of service to Suffolk and its most precious rare breed, Nigel’s passion to raise awareness and financial support has remained undiminished. He has made no fewer than 5 appearances on the BBC’s Countryfile telling this story to the nation and introducing presenter Adam Henson to the breed. So infectious was his passion that he encouraged Adam to take on this important work himself creating a breeding programme at his own farm in the Cotswolds.

Inspiring everyone from local school children in Suffolk to Her Majesty The Queen, in March 2020 Nigel was presented with the Sir Colin Spedding Award by The National Equine Forum by its Patron and President HRH the Princess Royal. The award sums up Nigel’s life’s work perfectly:

‘In recognition of his dedication and tireless energy in safeguarding The Suffolk Punch horse, including owning, breeding, working and showing this breed, as well as being The Heavy Horse Ambassador for The Rare Breeds Survival Trust.’

At the time of being presented with The Suffolk Medal, aged 78, Nigel still owns three of around 500 Suffolk horses now registered. Although age prohibits some of his former activities, he continues with promotional work, charitable displays and, perhaps most effectively of all, never ceases to share his passion to persuade anyone who will listen to join the fight to secure the future of The Suffolk Punch.

Born and educated in Suffolk, Linda has lived in Mid Suffolk for over 50 years. Throughout this time she has worked tirelessly and unpaid to increase awareness and understanding of the needs of people with a wide range of disabilities. She has played a key role in the creation and management of numerous voluntary organisations and has also informed and influenced the delivery of social, health and housing services. In short, she has improved the lives and outcomes of countless disabled people and their families across the whole of Suffolk.

In the early 1980’s Linda was among a small group of people determined to ‘rethink’ and improve services to people with disabilities. She became a founder member, and then Chair of Mid Suffolk Rethink, later known first as Rethink Disability and then Optua. This was possibly the first ‘user led’ organisation of its type in Suffolk. As a role model and champion she inspired, encouraged and supported many others to create similar organisations across the rest of the county.

Linda has been central to the development and success of numerous pioneering services including Street Forge Workshops at Thorndon, the network of Disabled Advice Services, Out and About, which provides leisure opportunities for children and young people with disabilities, and SHAPE which runs a programme of Arts activities for both disabled and able-bodied people and which became Artlink East. Linda was also Chair of Governors at the Thomas Wolsey School, seeing the school safely move to a brand new and fully accessible building, a Corporation Member of Suffolk New College, a Trustee of the Papworth Trust and Chair of the Mid Suffolk Voluntary Organisations Forum, helping to establish Red Gables, a resource centre for voluntary and community organisations in Stowmarket.

She was the first ever Chair of the Joint Planning Group for people with physical and sensory disabilities – all the chairs of the other groups were paid senior managers – which fed into the Suffolk Joint Consultative Committee that was responsible for planning services across the NHS and local authorities.

Linda’s persistent, selfless but determined approach has won her the respect and admiration of all those who work with her. It has made her an irresistible force for lasting change which continues to this day as a member of the Ipswich & East Suffolk CCG Community Engagement Group. She continues to work with the user led Disability Forums in the county, chairing both the Mid Suffolk and Suffolk Coastal Disability Forums, and the Disability Forum for Suffolk. She was awarded an MBE in 2010 for services to disabled people in Suffolk.

Terry was the editor of the East Anglian Daily Times for 21 years until his retirement in September 2017. He joined the newspaper in 1979 and went on to become the longest serving editor of any regional daily newspaper in the country.

Terry was born and educated in Suffolk and his whole life has been dedicated to supporting and making a positive difference to the county – Suffolk absolutely runs through his veins. Winning a huge amount of trust and respect from Suffolk people from all walks of life, his approach as editor was never partisan, he simply regarded his role as his public duty. His approach was to seek out the truth of the situation and give an entirely reliable account of it for the benefit of the whole of Suffolk.

In amongst his support for local business, sport, education and tourism, Terry has a particular  interest in rural life and agriculture and fully embraced his role as president of The Suffolk Agricultural Association in 2015. As chair of Ipswich Vision, Terry is a longstanding champion for the re-generation of our county town, Ipswich and its important role as the key driver of a healthy Suffolk economy. Terry has been a huge supporter of Suffolk’s voluntary sector, always shining a light on charities and community groups addressing the broadest cross section of need in our county. Terry has always been a very vocal supporter of the need for a central resource to support Suffolk’s social challenges and the charities who address local need. Key to this has been his support for Suffolk Community Foundation. His endorsement and hands on editorial support for their Suffolk Surviving Winter Appeal has seen it consistently lead the UK in the amounts it has raised to support older vulnerable people during the winter months. Many other local charitable initiatives simply would not have delivered all that they have without his passionate and consistent editorial. Against a backdrop of a steady decline in the presence of traditional and regional press, Terry’s passion, commitment and support to achieve community cohesion through strong regional and local community communication has played a major part in ensuring that we still have a vibrant local and regional press in print and online in Suffolk today.  

One of Terry’s greatest attributes is the way he has used his own personal challenges and those of his family to increase his own understanding and to take action on behalf of others. His approach has always been to roll up his sleeves and this has proved to be an inspiration and a catalyst for positive change to local lives across the county.

Since his retirement, he has become a volunteer for more than a dozen important organisations and charities, he is currently a trustee of Inspire Suffolk, Headway Suffolk and St Elizabeth Hospice. He is also chair of the development board at The Museum of East Anglian Life and remains hugely committed to making a significant and lasting difference to our county. 

Canon Sally Fogden was a member of the first group of women to be ordained in the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich in 1994 and has been the Diocesan Adviser on Women’s Ministry, the Bishop’s Agricultural Chaplain and Chairman of The Diocesan Board of Education. 

Sally has been a member of the national committee of the Rural Stress Information Network, and a member of the National Board of the Farm Crisis Network. She is founder and chair of the Suffolk branch of the Farming Community Network and the driving force behind the Addington Fund which did so much to alleviate problems of Suffolk pig farmers during the outbreak of Classical Swine Fever in 2000 and in helping rural communities during the Foot and Mouth epidemic in 2001, for which she received an MBE.

As a physiotherapist for Hillside and Riverwalk special schools, Sally introduced their young people to Riding For The Disabled and has now been coaching children at the charity for 45 years.

Sally has done huge amounts of good to alleviate rural loneliness and isolation through the founding of the Rural Coffee Caravan in 2003, for which she was honoured with the Points of Light Award by the Prime Minister in recognition of her outstanding volunteering. Most recently, Sally played a key role in supporting the team at The Rural Coffee Caravan and Community Action Suffolk to establish the Meet-up Mondays initiative, in recognition of the fact that isolation and loneliness are also prevalent in urban areas in Suffolk. This important and ground-breaking initiative encourages a much needed partnership between the local community, local businesses and the voluntary sector. Although only currently in its infancy, it has already led to dozens of individual groups springing up right across Suffolk.

Sally has immense personal compassion for everyone she meets, is gentle and humorous, yet focused and determined in supporting the vulnerable; truly a shining light to the ideal of selfless giving back. She is such a positive, uplifting and genuine person who is always ready to embrace new opportunities to help others.

Richard is the latest in a long line of social activists and philanthropists including his mother’s grandfather Charles Booth, whose maps of poverty in a London street formed the model for identifying pockets of need to this day.

Richard himself has made an enormous lifelong contribution to Walsham-le-Willows and the county of Suffolk as a whole. His commitment to protecting the history and character of the village is manifest in his donations of land and buildings. Richard’s great grandfather built 7 blocks of cottages in the village, including sheltered housing for the elderly. In 2011 Richard took the decision to donate 4 of the blocks in the centre of the village, 12 cottages in total, to Suffolk Community Foundation so that they and the gardens around them may remain unspoilt for future generations while the surplus rent will fund good causes in Suffolk.

Richard’s professional life was as a brewer, training first with Greene King in Bury St Edmunds before working for Whitbread. He became the director of the brewery responsible for its community affairs and was closely involved in developing the YTS Scheme which provided training for school leavers to help them find employment.

Richard retired early to devote his time to the voluntary sector. For 10 years he chaired the East Region of the National Lottery Charities Board, which funded many Suffolk charities, sat on the National Curriculum Council with particular interest in its vocational aspect. For many years he chaired the Martineau Trust, a charity that provides grants for essential but otherwise unaffordable items and expenses for Suffolk people suffering from illness or disability.

On his farm he has created new woods and planted countless hedgerows on an abandoned airfield and has opened a network of permissive footpaths across most of his land so that walkers may enjoy the beauties of the countryside. He has also given land to the Sports Club which has enabled it to expand and install an all-weather pitch. Its volunteers manage football and cricket teams for all ages and both sexes. They organise walking football and netball for older members and the Great Local Run for up to 60 people on a Saturday morning, not to forget the bowls green and the all important social club. 

For the last fourteen years Richard has helped the club adapt to changes in the charity laws so that, at last, it owns its own ground and has achieved full charitable status.