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BEM presentation – Mrs Edwards

Published: 08/04/2014

The Lord Lieutenant of Clwyd has presented a British Empire Medal to a local lady who has been involved in voluntary work for over 20 years. Retired teacher Mrs Joan Edwards from Corwen received her BEM in a ceremony last week for voluntary and charitable services as a member of the WRVS and as the leader of Clwb y Berwyn since her retirement in 1995. The club, that was originally an over 60s organisation was renamed and now has members of a range of ages from 55 to over 90 years. Mrs Edwards has given unlimited time and energy to the running of the club since taking up the reins and taken a fortnightly meeting for tea and a chat for the members to a club that offers a diverse range of activities. There are a variety of speakers, demonstrations of all sorts, educational talks from branches of different services, craft sessions, quiz events, exercise and easy dance classes. Her work with the club has trebled the membership and she has attracted members from surrounding villages so much so that membership has had to be curtailed due to the capacity of the meeting venue, the Corwen Healthy Living Centre, and there is a waiting list of people wanting to join. As a trustee of the South Denbighshire Community Partnership she has provided invaluable advice directed in maintaining the Healthy Living Centre and spent much time researching grants to keep the centre and club in a healthy financial position. Securing a £5,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund in 2012 enabled the members to visit places of historical interest and she has been successful in accessing external funding for the club from a variety of sources. Photo caption: The High Sheriff of Clwyd, Celia Jenkins, Mrs Joan Edwards BEM and Lord Lieutenant of Clwyd Harry Fetherstonhaugh.