A REVEREND who helped set up Colchester Foodbank and a governor of one of the country’s leading schools are amongst the Colchester recipients of awards in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

The awards recognise the amazing achievements of ordinary residents across the UK as well as famous faces.

Two pillars of the Colchester community have been recognised - the Rev Andrew Fordyce and Alan Blundell.

Both have been made Members of the British Empire for their service to the people of Colchester.

Mr Fordyce, now rector of the Tenpenny Benefice and based in Alresford, was instrumental in the creation of Colchester Foodbank during his time at St Margaret’s Church in Berechurch.

With the help of the Rev Hilary Lesev and supporter Brian Ford he helped get the charity off the ground and started it off to where it is today - the busiest foodbank in the east of England.

The first food parcels were distributed in 2009 and Mr Fordyce remains heavily involved today.

He said: “I am delighted and humbled to receive the honour.

“I have to say it is all about team work. In some ways it feels quite strange to be singled out because I am so grateful to the amazing work of colleagues and volunteers.

“I hope this shines a light on all the amazing people I have been privileged to work with through the foodbank.

“I often say I am working in the shadows of giants. What the volunteers do day in day out is extraordinary.

“And the foodbank wouldn’t existing if it wasn’t for the generosity of the people of Essex and Colchester. Consistently, year after year, they support us.

“At the beginning there was a lot of prayer going into it and we felt like amateurs. But then the food started coming in.

“We would like to do ourselves out of business, but as long as there is needed we will be here.”

Mr Fordyce has also been chaplain to the military in Colchester and worked with both 3 Para and 16 Medical Regiment.

Read more:

Mr Blundell has been made an MBE for his services to school governance and the voluntary sector in Colchester.

Gazette:

The Copford resident was chairman of the governors at Colchester County High School for Girls for about two decades.

Mr Blundell has also been recognised for his work with Copford Cricket Club and Copford Church.

He is also an honorary fellow at the University of Essex, where he used to chair the Essex Pension Scheme.

Mr Blundell, 84, said: “I had no previous involvement in the school from a family point of view.

“A previous vice chair just asked me to join. I met her at a wine tasting event and she asked me if I was interested.

“I had built an engineering college in my work with Cable and Wireless and I think that made me useful as the school was expanding. A year after joining they made me chairman of the local board.”

Mr Blundell said he was extremely proud of what had been achieved at the school, which is regularly ranked amongst the best grammar schools in the country.

He said: “The head teacher at the moment, Gillian Marshall, is the best appointment I have ever made. It is a brilliant school and she is a brilliant head.

“They never seem to have any problems and I am proud of everything going on up there.”

Kay English, of Frinton, has also been awarded a British Empire Medal for her services to transport management in the City of London including during the Covid-19 pandemic.

She has been traffic manager in the city since 2009 and her responsibilities currently include on and off street parking and management of special events on the highway.

Ms English has worked in parking-related services since 1997 in various London authorities as well as authorities outside of London.