THERE were celebrations for four special worshippers in our diocese when the Queen’s Birthday Honours list was published.

Joan Eddings, 91, and Graham Olway, 49, were awarded MBEs, Portsmouth University vice-chancellor, Professor John Craven, 63, became a CBE, and Rose Mitchell, 64, was given a British Empire Medal.

Great-grandmother Mrs Eddings received her award for services to the community in Portsmouth. 

She helped set up a lunch club for older people at our cathedral 30 years ago and was also one of the first people to be trained for the Portsmouth-based bereavement service, Help in Bereavement. It helps those in the city and the surrounding area cope after the loss of a loved one.

Graham, who is the PCC secretary at Christ Church, Portsdown, was recognised for his services to education.

As chairman of the Education Building Development Officers Group, he is responsible for liaising with local authorities and the Department for Education.

Prof Craven, who is a lay canon at our cathedral, was honoured for his services to higher education and the community. He has run the university for 16 years and will retire this month. He has also been a member of the Church of England’s Archbishops’ Council.

And Rose Mitchell, who is churchwarden and parish magazine editor at St James Church, East Cowes, received her award for organising the annual jigsaw puzzle festival at the church. It has raised more than £50,000 towards its upkeep. Rose collects and logs the hundreds of jigsaws donated to the church each year.

Bishop Christopher has congratulated them all on their honours.