Page 15 - LUDLOW TOWER FEB 22 (WEBSITE)
P. 15
Wayne davies bem
Wayne Davies is not a man to take Wayne is quick to point out the
things easy. In his time he has been a contribution of local individuals and
pipefitter, site foreman, engineer (IT and agencies such as Hands Together Ludlow,
mechanical), support manager, accounts Working Together Ludlow, Ludlow Food
manager, prison chaplain, street outreach Bank. ‘It may have been my name on the
worker and rehabilitation farm house letter from the Queen but it’s not about
parent, amongst other things. Even now me. It’s about what we can do together
that he has settled into a ‘steady career’ by each using our gifts, whatever they
in the Church of England he has two job may be’. Despite the official guidance
titles – Pioneer Curate and not to mix with other people it has
Intergenerational Missioner, as well as been possible, with appropriate care and
school governor. Now he is getting used risk assessments, to help others,
to a new title – Wayne Davies BEM. provided they want to be helped –
Wayne describes the award of the which is of course not always the case.
British Empire Medal in the But it does not necessarily
2022 New Year’s Honours as concern Wayne if his efforts
‘surreal, humbling, are not appreciated – the
undeserved and a real important thing is to do
honour’. His first thought what seems right at the
was that it was a scam; his time, even if that involves
second that he should turn going into a flat known to be
it down because, ‘I just do a drug den to collect the
what I do. Anyone else belonging of a homeless
would do the same. Other person or giving up a job
people do such amazing and the house that went
things.’ Wayne with it without any idea what
The honour recognises Wayne’s work in would happen next to him and his family.
various places over many years but Taking risks and stepping into the
especially around Ludlow during the unknown, trusting in a God who holds us
Covid pandemic. In the last two years as we do so, is a way of life for Wayne
Wayne has: delivered food parcels to and before long he will be stepping into
people in need, cut their grass, done another unknown - a Buckingham Palace
their shopping, driven them to medical garden party. Already he is looking
appointments, collected them from forward to meeting other recipients of
prison to settle them into their new all sorts of honours from all sorts of
homes, sat on the skate park chatting to different backgrounds. Before then he
young people, carried out Covid testing will be presented with his British Empire
in schools, made weekly videos to pep Medal by the Lord Lieutenant of
people up, ‘phoned people, talked to Shropshire, Mrs Anna Turner, at a special
people, loved people. I wonder how investiture ceremony..
many of us would actually ‘do the same’?
15
