Kathryn McCloghrie and Mark Roberts have both been awarded Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM).

Kathryn has been recognised for services to business and the community in Cumbria during the COVID-19 response, and Mark for services to the community of Cumbria during COVID-19.

Kathryn said:

So many people have done amazing things this year that I feel quite humbled to have received this recognition.

I see it as thanks to the whole team for our efforts and an indication of how important the ongoing safe secure management of Sellafield is to the country as well as the local community.

Mark said:

Beyond the initial shock, I feel strongly that the recognition belongs to everyone who I’ve worked with as part of the Community Support Cell, and the Crisis Management Support Team – those people, and many others, have worked incredibly hard with very long hours, through weekends, and often under significant pressure.

I’m very proud to have worked with those people; and I’m still working with some of the same people day-in, day-out, and they haven’t expected anything in return.

Similarly, the Sellafield Ltd employees who have volunteered in various ways, whether that’s supporting call centres, community groups, or providing their specialist skills and experience gained within Sellafield Ltd and beyond.

Chief Executive Martin Chown, Sellafield Ltd said:

Throughout our response to the pandemic I have been incredibly proud of the efforts of our employees.

Not only have they kept Sellafield safe and secure and brought work across the site safely back on line, they have also worked hard to make a difference in our local communities.

We were proud to work as one team with community leaders and organisations, and to use our resources where they could help those with immediate and urgent needs in the community.

The work of Kathryn and Mark in that effort was vital.

In the relatively short period since it began, Kent Police and the CNC have conducted a number of patrols together around Lydd, New Romney and the wider force area of Folkestone and Hythe.

The initiative is intended to further enhance the protective security arrangements around the Dungeness Nuclear Site, through closer working and interoperability between the two forces, whilst supporting the local community with an increase in visible police presence.

PC Lee Stokes, based at Dungeness, said: “Having supported Kent Police locally for many years it is great to be able to get out and about with them to see the sorts of jobs they attend. It’s not only a good relationship builder but it affords us the opportunity to build on our skills within the general policing arena, taking that experience back to our colleagues at Dungeness.”

Insp Andy Oatham, Unit Commander at Dungeness, said: “The feedback from our officers has been very good. They have dealt with a number of incidents ranging from domestic abuse to theft. This operational exposure is crucial in giving our officers the ability to fully support our Home Office colleagues whilst maintaining our protection of critical national infrastructure.”

Inspector Andy Brittenden, from Kent Police, said: “We are really excited about this project as it is giving officers from both forces the opportunity to work together, share their skills and experience and provide a first class service to the residents of Folkestone, Hythe and the Romney Marsh.”

The initiative has also given Kent Police the opportunity to increase their first responder capability. All CNC officers are trained to a national standard of first aid including the use of defibrillators, with some officers trained additionally as Police Medics giving them an advanced CPR capability. This in turn can offer greater life support prior to the arrival of the ambulance service.