Betty Milburn, Chair of Governors at the College, has been to Buckingham Palace to receive the MBE which was bestowed on her in the 2010 New Year Honours list in recognition of her services to Further Education and to the community in Suffolk.
Mrs Milburn was accompanied by her husband, Max, and their two granddaughters, Jessica, 14, and Poppy, 12, to the investiture ceremony at the beginning of June. [Wednesday 2 June 2010]
![Betty Milburn with her husband Max and granddaughters Poppy [L] and Jessica.](/pics/investiture012.jpg)
She said: “It was a wonderful experience – the sun shone brilliantly and the setting was superb. The ceremony itself was very efficiently organised, but the moment of meeting the Queen and actually receiving the award was surprisingly intimate and moving.
“Jessica and Poppy were very excited to be taken into Buckingham Palace during their half term holiday and to see the Queen!”
Mrs Milburn has been a Governor at West Suffolk College for 20 years and Chair of Governors for 10 years.
West Suffolk College Principal Dr Ann Williams said: “Betty has been generous with her time in fulfilling her duties as Governor. Her leadership has been invaluable in enabling the College to prosper and do outstandingly well. I am delighted that her hard work and commitment has been recognised in this way.”
Mrs Milburn said: “I am most grateful to Ann and all those who supported my nomination for this award. It has been a privilege to serve as Chair of the Corporation for the past ten years, and to receive such recognition for my contribution is a special honour which I will long remember.”
In addition to her role as College Governor, Mrs Milburn has been involved with many other organisations including the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, the Suffolk LSC and the Bury St Edmunds Past & Present Society. She was also a Governor at King Edward VI Upper School, Great Whelnetham Primary School, Rougham Primary School and Horringer Court Middle School, and currently chairs Suffolk FE Strategic Colleges' Forum.
In 1989 Mrs Milburn was elected to Suffolk County Council, where she served as opposition spokesman for Arts and Libraries, and Education. She later chaired the cross party Learning for Life Scrutiny Panel and served on numerous committees relating to education and the arts. She stood down as councillor in 2005.