THE FORMER Mayor of Cowes who is also well-known for his tireless work promoting links between the town and Poland, Geoff Banks, has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM), for services to the community.

Mr Banks, 74, who served as mayor of the town a record breaking 12 times, moved to the Isle of Wight in 1969 having been educated and also working in Bath up until that time.

He founded his own building firm, GJ Banks Ltd. but is best known for his involvement in a host of organisations promoting the well being of Cowes.

Among those is the Gateway Cowes project which he initiated and the Northwood House Charitable Trust Company Ltd where he served as a technical advisor.

He served as a town councillor with Cowes Town Council for 28 years and was elected as mayor for 12 occasions and deputy mayor for six.

As town mayor he formed the North Medina Community Development Trust Ltd and sat as a board member and was also a board member of the Isle of Wight Housing Association for many years.

He was the co-founder of the Friends of ORP Blyskawica Society which raises awareness of and commemorates the defence of Cowes and East Cowes by the historic Polish vessel.

Among his many other roles was a four year stint as chairman of The Friends of St. Mary's Hospital and a directorship of the Cowes Town Waterfront Trust.

He has been married to Kay for 49 years and lives in Ward Avenue, Cowes. He has two daughters, Rachael and Jill. He also has two granddaughters. Jill and her husband are directors and now run G J Banks with both Kay and Geoff still having part-time roles.

He said: "I was somewhat embarrassed to receive the award and still can't work out who was responsible for nominating me. I am proud and honoured but there are others far more deserving. The family will be proud so in that regard, yes, I'm pleased."

Another Isle of Wight resident well-known in Newport, Terence Blunden, has also been awarded the BEM. Mr Blunden, 79, of Halberry Lane, Newport is a former chairman of the Isle of Wight Sports Council and is also secretary of the Isle of Wight branch of the Historical Association.

Mr Blunden was born on the Island and trained as a PE and history teacher at King Alfred's College in Winchester (now Winchester University).

He worked on the mainland for a couple of years before he returned to live on the Isle of Wight as 'like so many people, I missed the sea at the weekends.'

He taught at the former West Wight Secondary Modern School and then served as a teacher for 25 years at Ryde High School where he was a careers guidance master. He retired from teaching 23 years ago.

He said: "When I came back to the Isle of Wight in 1965 there was no heated public swimming pool here so I became involved in the Isle of Wight Indoor Swimming Pool Association.

"I also became involved with the sports council and was chairman for 25 years. The council was involved in raising the profile of various activities on the Island and writing letters to obtain grants for both Medina and South Wight borough councils and latterly, writing submissions to obtain lottery grants."

He became secretary of the Isle of Wight branch of the Historical Association in 1999 and 'supported by a very good committee and officers' helped to raise the profile of the association which now has more than 200 members.

Recently, he has been involved as a volunteer for the National Trust at Bembridge Windmill where helps to meet visitors and give them information about the site.

He is also involved in two Newport charities, the Newport Grammar School Trust and the Worsley Almshouses charity. He is also involved in producing the Carisbrooke parish newsletter.

He has been married to Patricia for 56 years and the couple have two children and two grandchildren. He said: "It is a bit of a surprise to receive the award. None of what I have done could have been achieved without the support of my wife."

Also receiving a BEM is Kenneth Avery. Special Inspector, Hampshire Constabulary for services to Policing and the community in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Bryan Flawell, a Prison Officer at HM Prison, Isle of Wight was awarded an MBE for services to HM Prison Service and the community on the Isle of Wight.

Wildlife presenter, Chris Packham, who has connections with the Isle of Wight Zoo, has also received a CBE.

Former Medina High School and Isle of Wight College student Michelle Richmond, now a director at the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), was awarded an MBE for services to engineering.

Michelle, 53, who was born in Whippingham, completed her apprenticeship at Siemens Plessey Radar, now BAE Systems, and worked there for 13 years before moving to Bedfordshire in 1995.

She was recognised for her work as ambassador for women in engineering, and for spearheading education projects to encourage young people into Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) fields.

She instigated the IET’s partnership with the FIRST Lego League — the biggest STEM competition in the world, with more than 7,200 students from more than 600 schools in the UK and Ireland alone.

Michelle said: “It is a privilege and thrill to receive this award, which was totally unexpected. The importance of engineering cannot be underestimated in the world today and the next generation needs to realise what an exciting career opportunity engineering and technology presents.”