Bailiff’s reception toasts New Year’s Honours recipients

Lt General Richard Cripwell, speaking at the Bailiff’s New Year’s Day reception, said all three were all a credit to the island, and informed the audience that there was actually a fourth.

Joining horticulturalist Raymond Evison, Island Games organiser Julia Bowditch, and Government House manager Vanessa Wakeford, was islander Captain Pierre Ozanne, of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, who had been awarded a military MBE.

The Lt-Governor said that as a former soldier himself, he knew just how difficult it was to get an award of this nature.

‘Serving with a Ranger Regiment the bar is even higher, and even though we may never know what he did, I have absolutely no doubt that this award was richly deserved.’

The Lt-Governor then turned his attention to the two recipients present in the Royal Court, saying that nobody who knew MBE recipient Ms Bowditch, would have been in any doubt that the Games would be a great success.

‘That success ultimately was down to one remarkable woman. Her energy, enthusiasm and drive, her command of detail, steel when required, and frankly her sheer leadership produced the Games that delivered in every possible way.

‘It made every one on the island unbelievably proud of what had been achieved, and it will leave a legacy not just in sport, but of pride and achievement that will last more than a generation.’

He then described Clematis expert Mr Evison, winner of 33 RHS Chelsea gold medals, as a man with so many achievements that it would take all day to summarise them.

‘To walk round the Chelsea Flower Show with Raymond, is to know what its like spending time with a rock star. Normally people have to be taken away from the King because they are trying to catch his attention – at Chelsea last year the King had to be taken away from Raymond Evison.

‘Raymond is an extraordinarily kind, caring, passionate, enthusiastic man who makes a difference. This award of Commander of the British Empire and production is richly deserved.’

Mrs Wakeford, house manager of Government House, who received the Royal Victorian Medal (Silver) he described as an ‘utterly wonderful lady’.

‘I’m delighted for her. She is an extraordinary woman, a woman of character, of humour, of humility, and of exacting standards, and when required a very nicely disguised level of steel.’

Both Mr Evison and Ms Bowditch said they had been inundated with messages of congratulations since the official announcement late on Friday evening.

‘I have had a fantastic amount of messages and emails, particularly from people on the island and the horticultural community in the UK,’ said Mr Evison.

‘I’ve been very, very busy just keeping up with my replies. It is such a tremendous honour to receive the award.’

Ms Bowditch said that for her, one particular message had stood out.

‘I’ve had so many lovely messages since the official announcement, but there was one from my former headmistress at Vale Primary, Mrs Minta.

‘She said my award was well deserved. I was really touched. I was amazed she remembered she’d taught me. I probably haven’t spoken to her for 30 years.’

She added that she was really looking forward to receiving the official medal later this year.

‘I’ve never been to the Palace, I’m really looking forward to it,’ she said.

‘I’ll probably never get invited again.’