Sussex residents named in New Year's Honours List 2020

Extraordinary dedication and years of service in their fields have led people across the country to be recognised by the Queen.

Among them is Norman Stevens, 69, from Lewes, who has spent a near-lifetime restoring Brighton’s Royal Pavilion.

Mr Stevens has played the central role in preserving the interiors since 1979 and has also taught and assisted others in their work on the historic building.

He is awarded the British Empire Medal for his work.

Mr Stevens said: “When I found out, I couldn’t believe what I was reading and I still can’t think of an adjective to describe how I feel – maybe elation and shock.

“It really does take you unawares, I feel terribly honoured.

Norman Stevens with Prince Charles in 1988

“When I reluctantly finished at the Pavilion in 2018, I had to make a speech.

“I described how I found the building when I went in there as a 28-year-old and I described it as looking almost like a battleship – a very dark building on the out and inside, rather battle scarred.

“The main problem I encountered was that the building leaked, it was like a sieve. I remember coming in there to work in the morning and setting out buckets which caught the water as it was pouring in.”

Mr Stevens had trained through an apprenticeship as a decorative painter and worked for a variety of companies before being employed to restore the Pavilion’s Music Room after a disastrous arson attack in 1975 caused extensive damage.

“After the fire, they suddenly realised what an amazing thing they had,” he said. When I first went there, the building was rented out.

“I think Brighton Council really did realise what a valuable asset they had, hence the strengthening of the conservation department.”

He is highly skilled in specialist conservation skills such as cleaning, restoring, plastering and fine carving as well as painting and gilding.

“I was almost part of the furniture, and I certainly felt like I was on occasion,” he said. “Joining the Pavilion, I had the privilege of working with several people who had been there for a while who were able to talk me through.”

Over the years, Mr Stevens allowed others to benefit from his wide-ranging knowledge of the Pavilion and of restoration work.

He also led tours, gave TV presentations and talks and trained eager students.

His last project to restore the Saloon to its 1823 design has lasted some 11 years. He said: “It was a fantastic job and I’m probably one of the lucky people in life, having that thing you enjoy be your job.”

Also receiving a British Empire Medal is Jenny Williams from Eastbourne, leader of Revolution Arts, a group which supports the creative sector. During the Covid crisis, she and her team used the arts to help people through the pandemic.

They put together a programme of digital events, running every Thursday and Friday online and free to access, showcasing some of the best diverse talent.

Jenny Williams

She said: “We have had a crisis this year and our creative community has stepped up and said ‘we’re going to be there for you in whatever way we can’. Next year, our creative sector is going to continue to bring us together, performances for the love ones we have lost and for the young people to renew hope.”

This year, Ms Williams’ team has engaged with about 88,000 people online – providing a social space and a “sense of community”.

She said: “I think the arts is beauty in people’s lives, it’s a connection of people who come together – it’s about having fun and forgetting.

“It was an honour to be part of a team of people and voluntary groups that came together to combat loneliness, to say ‘we’re going to do this together for our community’.”

Ms Williams has also volunteered time and resources to grassroots organisations to help them deliver essential services during this time, partnering with a food bank and pupil referral services to get musical instruments, creative packs and support to families in need, particularly in under-served communities.

Her programme has also supported the Muslim community through this challenging time as they were unable to celebrate Ramadan and break fast with family members and love ones.

She was thrilled to find out about her honour. She said: “I was sitting next to my old man, strolling through emails and jumped up in shock. He said ‘what’s the matter?’. We’re so used to bad news now. I was joyful to be recognised for the work we’ve been doing, working with extraordinary talent around the world, and it’s recognition for the industry I work in.”

Ambulance chief has 'unparalleled success' 

Joe Garcia Secamb

AN AMBULANCE chief has been awarded an MBE for achieving “unparalleled success” in the midst of pandemic.

Joe Garcia, 57, is the director of operations at South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) NHS Foundation Trust.

Mr Garcia joined on an interim basis at a time of leadership crisis, just after the trust was put into special measures and the entire team of executives had been moved on, before being asked to stay on a permanent basis.

His leadership was a key factor in the trust being rated good or outstanding last August, the latter for patient care and for leadership.

During the Covid crisis, he has driven the trust’s efforts across the entire South East of England, delivering its best ever performance despite up to 600 frontline staff sick or self-isolating because of the disease.

He said: “I am immensely proud to be recognised for the work we have done, not just me, but the whole ambulance community.

“We have been combating this particular pandemic, which has been challenging physically and mentally, by rallying the team together.

“We’ve been able to get though it so far, yes it’s getting tougher, but we will rise to the challenge.

“To be a leader of that team, I am immensely proud.”

Mr Garcia has gone to great personal lengths to ensure supplies of PPE and hand sanitiser for the trust’s frontline workers.

He has created and led a massive communications drive to promote social distancing in the trust and introduced calls with staff up to four times a week to ensure they are kept informed at a time of real uncertainty.

He has served 35 years in the ambulance service, joining in 1985 following service in the Royal Marines, during which time he saw active service in

the Falklands War and in Northern Ireland.