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<div>Congratulations Danny!<br><br>\\<br><br>DEPUTY MAYOR AWARDED BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL FOR SERVICES TO RADIO<br></div>
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<div>Deputy mayor awarded British Empire Medal for services to radio</div>
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<div>BASILDON Deputy Mayor Danny Lawrence has been awarded the British Empire</div>
<div>Medal (BEM) for his commendable service to community radio.</div>
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<div>The British Empire Medal is given to those engaging in voluntary work who</div>
<div>have made a "hands-on" contribution to their local community or have made</div>
<div>an impact in a relatively short time, and is worthy of recognition by the</div>
<div>crown.</div>
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<div>Deputy mayor Cllr Danny Lawrence, said: “This is a great honour for me and</div>
<div>community radio as a medium.</div>
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<div>“I can think of many highlights in my career in community radio but being</div>
<div>an ear for local concerns and giving people a chance to train and improve</div>
<div>their skills are high on that list.</div>
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<div>“I’ve seen people gain full time employment following voluntary stints in</div>
<div>community radio and youngsters who have been excluded from school find a</div>
<div>sense of purpose and focus. In one such case a young person who had been</div>
<div>excluded from school got to meet the Prime Minister through his work on</div>
<div>community radio.</div>
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<div>“It’s amazing what can be achieved through community radio and I’m</div>
<div>delighted I am to receive this medal for my contribution.”</div>
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<div>Councillor Tony Ball, leader of Basildon Council, added: “Cllr Lawrence has</div>
<div>made a valuable contribution to community radio which is now being</div>
<div>recognised in the New Year’s honours list.</div>
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<div>“This is a very proud moment and I would like to congratulate Danny on this</div>
<div>achievement.”</div>
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<div>The BEM was first awarded in 1917 but was stopped in the 1990’s. The award</div>
<div>was brought back for the Queens Diamond Jubilee Year.</div>
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<div>Councillor Lawrence, who is director of the Community Media Association</div>
<div>(CMA) and president of the Rotary Club of Corringham Thameside, has worked</div>
<div>in community radio for 11 years, six of which have been spent at Basildon’s</div>
<div>Gateway 97.8.</div>
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<div>He first hit the airwaves as a 13-year-old with Harold Wood Hospital Radio</div>
<div>before working for various community radio stations including BR FM on the</div>
<div>Isle of Sheppey, Kent and Garrison Radio in Colchester.</div>
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<div>It was at Garrison Radio that he broadcast to troops in Afghanistan and was</div>
<div>able to relay messages from the front line to the families of soldiers in</div>
<div>the UK.</div>
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<div>During Danny’s time at Gateway 97.8 the station has won the Big Society</div>
<div>award and Queen’s award for voluntary service.</div>
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<div>Ends/</div>
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<div>Further Information:</div>
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<div>For further information and to set up a photo opportunity please contact</div>
<div>Deputy Mayor Cllr Danny Lawrence on 07903 265 726.</div>
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