"The King of the Channel" Mike Read

IPSWICH: A collection of the most dedicated volunteers and community stalwarts have been honoured in the New Year’s Honours list.

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Among them are King of the Channel Mike Read for services to swimming and Hilary Cadman, pictured below, for her commitment to victims of domestic violence.

Today they spoke of their delight and pride at being honoured.

Mrs Cadman, former chairman of Ipswich Women’s Aid, was awarded an MBE for her dedication to victims of domestic violence.

“It is such an honour to be recognised in this way,” she said. “I am really delighted about it.

“I first joined Women’s Aid when it was first founded as a volunteer; I then became a full member of staff and did that for 23 years before retiring.

“When I started it was a struggle, the charity was quite insignificant at the time. But over the years we have built it into something amazing. Before retiring, we had built a refuge and had bought a second property and things continue to grow and as always there is still more to do.”

Veteran swimmer Mike Read, who has swum the Channel 33 times and is also President of the Channel Swimming Association, has been awarded an MBE.

Mr Read is also a leading light of the campaign to reopen the Broomhill Pool.

The 70-year-old swimmer lives in Sproughton and was chosen to represent Great Britain at the 1960 Olympics in Rome.

Sadly, injury prevented him from competing, but he has since devoted his life to swimming – in 1979 he swam the channel six times.

Mr Read said: “I am delighted to be awarded this honour. I have been involved with swimming so many years – I started at Brighton back in the 1950s and was a member of the committee of the swimming club there back in 1957 when I was just 16!”

Chairman of James Lind Alliance, Lester Firkins, was awarded an OBE for his services to medical research.

n Are you pleased to see these community heroes honoured? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or send an 
e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk