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ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

The Order of the British Empire was created during the First World War in 1917 by George V. The King recognised the necessity for a new award of honour which could be more widely awarded, in recognition of the large numbers of people in the British Isles and other parts of the Empire who were helping the war effort both as combatants and as civilians on the home front. For the first time, women were included in an order of chivalry, and it was decided that the Order should also include foreigners who had helped the British war effort.

From 1918 onwards there were Military and Civil Divisions, as George V also intended that after the war the Order should be used to reward services to the State, defined in a much wider sense to acknowledge distinguished service to the arts and sciences, public services outside the Civil Service and work with charitable and welfare organisations of all kinds. The Order of the British Empire is the order of chivalry of the British democracy. Valuable service is the only criterion for the award, and the Order is now used to reward service in a wide range of useful activities. Citizens from other countries may also receive an honorary award, for services rendered to the United Kingdom and its people. There are more than 100,000 living members of the Order throughout the world.

After some debate, St Paul's Cathedral was nominated by a special committee and approved by The Queen, as the Chapel of the Order. As the cathedral of the capital city, it could accommodate services attended by very large congregations, and (in the words of one committee member) 'St Paul's symbolised the victory of the British spirit during the war of 1939-45 in that, although badly damaged and shaken, it survived the ordeal by battle in an almost miraculous way'.

A Chapel for the Order was subsequently built in the cathedral crypt (where Nelson, Wellington and Sir Christopher Wren are buried, amongst others) and its formal dedication in 1969 was attended by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh (Grand Master of the Order). Once every four years, approximately 2,000 members of the Order attend a service there to celebrate the Order. Many people who have been awarded an honour from overseas attend these services, and each person attending wears their award.

The motto of the Order is 'For God and the Empire'.

From : The official web site of the British Monarchy

http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page1.asp

Bill Cann OBE

This year’s New Year’s Honours list contains a name well known to all of us in the Beacon Villages area but, for visitors to this site from other parts of the country and from all over the world, a few details will help you to appreciate why everyone here feels that it is an honour very well deserved. Bill Cann lives in a cottage in South Zeal and comes from a family with a history of service to the community. Bill has served as a Parish Councillor for 37 years, as a County Councillor for 22 years and as a Member of the Dartmoor National Park Committee, also for 22 years. He is currently Chairman of the DNP and has now been awarded the Order of the British Empire for his services to National Parks.

It is often cynically thought that businessmen and politicians outwardly connive and manoeuvre to attain these honours but, even if this were to be so, no such intentions could be ascribed to Bill. He is a genuine, hard working, community spirited person, much liked and admired by his peers. Imagine all those hours spent in Parish, County and National Park committee meetings while the rest of us are down the pub, watching TV or pursuing our hobbies. All those hours reading papers, attending functions, addressing problems, being a public figurehead, while we do our jobs and then have our evenings and weekends free, to do as we please.

Bill has put in those hours and always with a smiling face and time for his parishioners and colleagues. He has said that his wife, Christine and his two daughters share this award for their assistance to him and their tolerance of the requirements of his workload. Imagine if your partner had to put in all those unsociable hours, attending all the village, Parish, County and National Park events and meetings. It’s a demanding way of life and Christine and Bill have adopted it whole heartedly.

Apparently they have known about the Honour since a letter arrived from Buckingham Palace in November. We in the village knew nothing, until the New Year announcements in the media. I last saw Bill, out on New Year’s day, not basking in praise for his achievement, but just coming out of his cottage with Christine to enjoy another village community event with his friends. Yes, others in the community may work as hard – fund raising, organising events, etc. but I am sure that they will welcome this Honour as a tribute both to Bill and to the unselfish and caring life style of the villager, that he represents.