A woman, identified as the oldest victim of the Post Office scandal, expressed that her OBE award symbolizes acknowledgment for all postmasters who suffered due to the injustice. Betty Brown, aged 92 and residing in Consett, County Durham, was honored in the New Year Honours List for her relentless advocacy for justice. Over 900 sub-postmasters faced wrongful prosecution following errors in the Horizon IT software, falsely implicating them in money theft from branch accounts.
The public inquiry revealed that 59 victims considered suicide, with 10 making attempts. Sir Wyn Williams, the chairman, highlighted a “real possibility” that 13 individuals took their lives due to the anguish they endured. Ms. Brown, an original victim who participated in the legal action against the Post Office led by Sir Alan Bates, operated the Annfield Plain Post Office alongside her late husband Oswall from 1985 to 2003. They estimated losing approximately £100,000 of their own funds to cover non-existent shortfalls.
For the first time in 26 years, Ms. Brown enjoyed a Christmas without worries after receiving compensation through a government scheme. Reflecting on her OBE recognition, she humbly stated, “I’m honored… I’m just an ordinary, hard-working person… it’s just not something that you ever think about and I think of all the sub-postmasters, all the 900, the 13 that committed suicide.” She emphasized that the award is a tribute to the suffering of the subpostmasters and the significance it holds.
D-Day veteran Mervyn Kersh expressed his gratitude for receiving a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his educational efforts on Holocaust remembrance and wartime service. The 101-year-old recalled his experiences at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp and stressed the importance of remembrance to prevent history from repeating itself.
Among other notable individuals recognized for their contributions are Ellen Roome, Ryan Riley, Serena Wiebe, and Sandra Igwe. Ellen Roome, aged 49, received an MBE for her advocacy on online safety following the tragic loss of her son Jools. Ryan Riley, aged 32, was awarded a BEM for establishing Life Kitchen, a cookery school aiding those with taste and smell impairments. Serena Wiebe, aged 21, was honored with a BEM for her anti-knife crime activism, inspired by personal tragedies. Sandra Igwe, aged 36, received an MBE for her initiatives with the Motherhood Group to enhance maternal healthcare for black women, driven by her own challenging experiences.
These remarkable individuals have dedicated themselves to noble causes, making a positive impact on society and deserving recognition for their selfless efforts and contributions.