BEM recipient hopes it lifts RBL welfare team’s profile

Marlene Place has been awarded the British Empire Medal for services to military veterans in Guernsey.

Mrs Place has been the team’s chairwoman since 2018 and leads a team of five case workers who have experience of working with other people and liaising with other agencies locally.

‘A high proportion of veterans returning or relocating to the island will bring with them hugely transferable skills and will settle easily,’ she said.

‘A small minority may find the move more difficult.’

Anecdotal evidence showed their need was often about the loss of comradeship and a wish to identify other support.

Mrs Place, nee Tostevin, was educated at St Peter’s School and after passing the 11-plus went to The Ladies’ College.

After doing nursing training in Guildford and Exeter, she undertook ophthalmic training at the St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem.

She worked in Jersey and Newfoundland, and was a ward sister at a the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Birmingham. She did a year in Saudi Arabia and four years in the Sultanate of Oman where she met husband, Bob. They married in Muscat before returning to Guernsey in 1987.

On their return to the island she became head of home at the newly-opened Guernsey Cheshire Home, a position she held for more than 20 years.

She set up and led a welfare team for the Bailiwick Armed Forces veterans on behalf of the Guernsey branch of the Royal British Legion, which is now highly regarded by the national charity. The veterans network seeks out individual needs and identifies mental health as a priority issue. A new service – psychology support – was set up this year.

Mrs Place organised a study day at the PEH for local organisations employing veterans, in conjunction with a UK university, and arranged for doctors from local medical practices to attend a seminar in the UK to improve their understanding of veterans’ needs.

She said she was proud and honoured to be awarded the BEM and the news had come as a real surprise.