Phuket residents on British New Year Honours List

PHUKET: Cindy Ratcliffe, President of the Phuket International Women’s Club (PIWC), Martin Carpenter, Chairman of the British Business Association of Phuket (BBAP), UK Honorary Consul Alan Cooke and Lucy Norton have been made Members of the British Empire (MBE) in the UK’s New Year Honours List for their efforts in helping tsunami victims, it was announced on Saturday.

“I feel quite amazed and it hasn’t really sunk in yet. I never expected anything like this to happen to me,” said Mrs Ratcliffe, 60, who was awarded for her continuing services to disadvantaged Thai children and victims of the tsunami.

She tended to the injured, volunteered to clean up debris and helped tsunami survivors from overseas by using her linguistic skills in French, Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch.

“Last year so much assistance was needed and it is very nice to have all that hard work acknowledged, but I am happy, also, to be able to continue doing more,” she added.

Mr Carpenter said, “I am delighted and honored to have been presented with this MBE. It’s very nice to be recognized for what I did. However, there were many people involved in many ways in the rescue and identification process after the tsunami. I would like to take this opportunity to especially thank those individuals who assisted me in what was an incredible joint effort following the tragedy on December 26, 2004.”

The PIWC and the BBAP presented a variety of fund-raising activities over the past year in aid of tsunami victims. Both organizations also regularly contribute financial assistance for needy children across Phuket, and provide clothing, shelter, food and scholarships to Thai orphans and victims of child abuse.

Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Yates, who led the police response to identify British tsunami victims, was also recognized in the New Year Honours List. He was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal.