A man who helped change the lives of many people who had been sleeping rough in the city is being recognised in the latest King’s honours.
Jeff Marsh, the former chief executive of the Foxton, a charity which has served the city since the late 1960s, is to be made an MBE.
He retired in the summer after leading the charity for more than a decade.
Mr Marsh told Blog Preston: “I am flattered to be recognised and I am happy to accept it. What I’ve done I see it as an award for the whole of Foxton getting an MBE not just me as the work I did over the decade was a team effort.
“The Foxton is such a special place and I hope the community and the city continue to support it.”
After stepping back from the Foxton, he has taken on a short-term role within Lancashire County Council’s housing support team which is due to finish in March next year and will see Jeff fully retire.
He has also trained as a celebrant and has begun to conduct weddings and is all set to help one of his former staff members at the Foxton, youth worker, Samuel Gregson tie the knot in 2026.
Mr Marsh said: “I am looking forward to my pension and my bus pass next year and yes, I’ll still be continuing to support the Foxton. I will be there at the Big PNE Sleep Out at Deepdale in March, although I’m hoping being an MBE means there might be an extra bit of cardboard for me to sleep on.”
Read more: The Big PNE Sleep Out returns to tackle female homelessness in the city
Chair of trustees at Foxton, John Parkinson, said the MBE was richly deserved for Jeff’s work.
He said: “The award is justifiable recognition of Jeff’s lifelong work with both homeless people and young people.
“Jeff was CEO of The Foxton and over the ten year period I worked alongside him I was able to see not just his skills in leading the complex and pressurised work of a local charity but seeing it develop and thrive.
“Jeff cared deeply about the people who rely on The Foxton and this was his motivation at all times. He would be the first to say that the award is recognition of the team, the service users, partner organisations and supporters in Preston all of whom combine to try to make the city a better place to live for everyone.”
Receiving an MBE alongside Mr Marsh in the New Years’ Honours are fellow Prestonians Dr Dwarampudi Rama Krishna Reddy who is the director of Homeless Housing for his services to homeless people in the city, author, historian and campaigner David John Hindle who helped to create Grimsargh Wetlands, as well as David Denholm Brookes a Universal Credit programme manager at HMRC for his services to welfare reform.
A man for military veterans is honoured
Also on the honours list are Colonel David Ian Waters who is president of the Lancashire Armed Forces Association for his voluntary service to veterans. He helps run the Sandbags café in the city, a meeting place for those who have served in the forces, as well as a number of other initiatives for helping veterans and is a trustee of the Lancashire Infantry Museum based at Fulwood Barracks.
Col Waters told Blog Preston: “I was surprised, there are many other people who have worked tirelessly for much longer than I have for our veterans so I do feel very privileged to have been honoured.
“I have worked hard to overcome obstacles to get our five Lancashire World War II veterans abroad to the big ceremonies in the last couple of years which, without the magnificent response from BAE Systems at Warton, giving us the use of its business jet so they could travel easily, comfortably and speedily would not have been possible – and all those ceremonies would have been much poorer for our characterful veterans not being there and taking their rightful place in the nations celebration of their golden generation.
“In addition, to quickly react and open the Sandbag Cafe in St George’s Parish Hall in Preston in April 2023 following two military suicides in the town in March, was an antidote to loneliness and depression which was in danger of taking hold following the closure of the Royal Air Force Wings Drop-in Centre in Fishergate during COVID. It is now in danger of outgrowing the premises such is its popularity and success.
“The BEM specifically includes an individual who has delivered an impact over a relatively short period of time but I am in no doubt, none of this could have happened without the compassion, commitment and sheer hard work of the magnificent people who inspire me to do more on a daily basis – I salute them all.”
Armed Forces Champion at Preston City Council, councillor Mel Close, said: “I’m delighted that David is to be recognised for the work he does supporting people across the military family but in particular for his role in supporting veterans and giving them the recognition they deserve, and in particular the setting up and continued support for the Sandbag veterans drop in.
“I’m really appreciative of the support he’s given me since becoming Armed forces champion for Preston, he really has mentored, taught and supported me – I’ve learnt so much from him.
“He leads on all Preston’s commemorative events too, last year was the 80th anniversary of d day and this year the 80th anniversary of WWII – and Preston’s commemorative events were ‘second to none’ thanks to David’s input.
“Most people probably don’t realise just how much he does, or that he does it all as a very willing volunteer.
“On behalf of my self and my colleague at Preston City Council we’d like to congratulate him on his honour. One of Preston’s superstars.”
Colonel Waters receives a BEM while Professor Eamonn Mark Molloy, chairman of the Royal Air Force central fund receives an OBE for his services to the RAF.
Away from the military and principal lecturer in deaf studies at the University of Lancashire, Dr Lynne Bernadette Barnes is made a CBE for her services to education.
Know someone who should be recognised for what they do in Preston? The Proud Preston Awards take place next year and nominations are open at the moment across 14 categories for people who make the city a fantastic place and do great work.
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