Professor Sheila Rodwell, of Bury St Edmunds, who was awarded an OBE for services to healthcare, died this week after a long illness.

Prof Rodwell was director of the Medical Research Council Centre for Nutritional Epidemiology in Cancer Prevention and Survival, at the University of Cambridge, and an investigator of the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer study, in Norfolk. She examined the link between diet and genetic and environmental factors in later onset cancer.

- ONE of Suffolk Police's high-ranking police officers, Chief Supt Stewart Gull, was among those decorated, receiving the Queen's Police Medal.

Det Chf Supt Gull, 46, who lives in Bury St Edmunds and is married with two grown up children, has spent 28 years with Suffolk Police and is head of protective services. He led the investigation into the Ipswich prostitute murders in December 2006.

"I am a little embarrassed, very surprised and very humbled, but of course I am delighted. I think it is recognition not just for me but my family and the whole constabulary," he said.

"I think I am the first Suffolk Police non-chief officer to receive this award, so that makes it even a bit more special."

- FORMER County Upper School pupil Capt Ian Robinson, 41, has been made an MBE. Capt Robinson, who grew up on the Howard estate, lives in Surrey but still has family living in Bury. He has served with the Royal Anglian Regiment for 19 years.

"It was a surprise and obviously I am very pleased about it," he said.

"I took part in the Regiment's homecoming parade through Bury, which was fantastic for me as a Bury boy and will live with me forever. Now, to get this award is even more fantastic. My family are all extremely pleased."

Capt Robinson, who has since been commissioned, was regimental sergeant major for the regiment's tour of Afghanistan.

"I think the MBE was based on the preparation, the tour itself and the aftermath. It is a job I have worked for all my life," he added.

- MAXINE Kasicki, 61, of Ixworth, has been made an MBE for voluntary service to Victim Support over the last 20 years..

"I feel very honoured and to have my work recognised in this way is very special for me," she said.

"When I started volunteering I was probably in a difficult stage of my own life and I felt Victim Support was the organisation I would like to give my time to. The first person I saw was an elderly victim of a bogus caller. I was totally hooked in from that point as I thought it was really worthwhile."

- RECYCLING pioneer Sandra Pell, of St Edmundsbury Borough Council, has been made an MBE.

She joined the council in 1992 as recycling officer, when the recycling rate was two per cent. By the time of her appointment as head of service for waste management in 2002, the borough council's recycling rate had risen to more than 50 per cent.


Click here to go back to our main news index.