Two British Empire Medals awarded

At the City Chambers earlier this evening two British Empire Medals were awarded to Edinburgh citizens.

Both ladies were recognised for their great work in different spheres, and were joined by their families in the Lady Provost’s Room for the short ceremony.

Mrs Dorothy Irene Curr volunteered at Tor and Manor Grange Nursing Homes in Edinburgh. She was known as the Monday Lady and from starting as a volunteer in 1972 Mrs Curr was appointed to the Board of Management between 2000 and 2014.

Her baking is legendary and she used to make cakes at Easter and Christmas for residents, staff and raffles. Now she has moved on to make and sell marmalade to raise funds for trips and activities.

Mrs Ann Brown Russell was awarded the BEM for services to nursing and health leadership in Ethiopia. Since retiring as an Infectious Diseases Specialist nurse she has led Sheffield Health Action Resource for Ethiopia known as SHARE. This involves sending surplus NHS equipment to Ethiopia and enabling skills transfer which has had considerable impact there. Her leadership skills have also led to Hospital Infection Control Policy long before it became a national policy.

The Lord Provost said : “I am delighted that within the City of Edinburgh, we have two recipients of this honour – Mrs Anne Brown Russell and Mrs Dorothy Irene Curr.

“On behalf of the City I would like to say how proud we are of your achievements, and how fitting it is that you are being recognised in this way.”

The British Empire Medal is a British medal awarded for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown. It was awarded to subjects of the United Kingdom from 1922 until 1992, after which time it lay in 

abeyance in the United Kingdom, although was still awarded in some Commonwealth realms.

It was brought out of abeyance in June 2012, for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, to recognise the dedication and hard work so many provide to their communities.