Suffolk is to have its own medal and recipients can be nominated by any resident. The public are being asked to get involved to ensure that The Suffolk Medal is the most prestigious award that the whole County can bestow upon one of its own. Nominations will be considered by a team formed of Suffolk leaders.
Who should be awarded the first ever Suffolk Medals? An idea of the High Sheriff, George Vestey, the first silver medals, have been designed by Suffolk-born, world-famous artist, Maggi Hambling, who was pleased to be asked to get involved,
The Suffolk Medal was launched at the High Sheriff Awards and will be awarded to the first worthy recipients in June, on Suffolk Day.
History chooses who it remembers – John Constable, Sir Bobbie Robson, John Peel, Benjamin Britten, and Elizabeth Garrett Anderson may well have been worthy recipients of the medal, were they around today.
“The purpose of the Suffolk Medal is to recognise, reward and champion the exceptional contributions of Suffolk people that have made a fundamental, measurable and lasting difference to the lives of people in our county and absolutely key to its success is that everyone in Suffolk is invited to play their part in putting names forward”, George Vestey explained.
Funded by private individuals, it is also intended that those honoured every year with the medal, will have their names recorded and their stories told in perpetuity, in an exciting interactive display at the new Suffolk Records Office – The Hold.
Nominations can be made directly online by any Suffolk resident via www.thesuffolkmedal.org.uk
