New Year Honour for volunteer who helps bereaved

An 83-year-old who has voluntarily provided more than 600 hours of care to bereaved prisoners is among those from East Yorkshire on the King's New Year Honours list.

Raphael Frederick Sims-Williams, known as Fred, from Kirk Ella, volunteers for Cruse Bereavement Support and has been appointed an MBE for his "services to the bereaved".

The Cabinet Office said Mr Sims-Williams served as a volunteer providing emotional support to families after the Grenfell Tower fire, as well as the Manchester Arena and Borough Market attacks.

Mr Sims-Williams said it would be a "great privilege" to collect his MBE from the King.

Mr Sims-Williams was the Cruse chairman and major incident lead for Yorkshire and Humber from 2019 to 2021, overseeing volunteer teams and working with regional partners.

He also transitioned Cruse volunteer training online and delivered it nationwide at the start of the Covid-19 lockdown.

Through the Grief Inside project, Mr Sims-Williams has provided care to more than 170 bereaved prisoners at HMP Humber in the last three years.

On receiving the news that he had been appointed an MBE, Mr Sims-Williams said: "It came as a great surprise. My wife picked up the post and wanted me to find out what it was all about.

"When I read it I thought 'good gracious who's done this?' I still don't know.

"I just thought how nice it was that somebody has recognised the work we do with bereaved people is valuable, because that's the way I look at it.

"If people are asking for help, I feel if I can offer it then I should."

Other people from East Yorkshire named on the honours list include:

• Debra Gray, principal and chief executive officer for Hull College, to be awarded a CBE for services to education

• Rachel Emma Wilkes, chief executive officer for Humber Education Trust, appointed an OBE for services to education

• Carter Goodby, people business partner at London North Eastern Railway, to be awarded a BEM for services to diversity and inclusion

• Michael Nicholson, crew manager at Clough Road and Hull Central Fire Stations, to be awarded a BEM for services to the Humberside Fire and Rescue Service

• Keith Yates, destination manager for Hull City Council, appointed an OBE for services to tourism

• Alan Foster, governor at Wilberforce Sixth Form College, Yorkshire, appointed an MBE for services to further education

• Michael Loncaster, lately headteacher at Molescroft Primary School in Beverley, appointed an MBE for services to education

• Patricia Welsh, lately warm homes team manager for Hull City Council, appointed an MBE for services to energy efficiency and to alleviating fuel poverty

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