Val Butcher is celebrating after being awarded the British Empire Medal in the King’s New Year Honours list.

She has been recognised for her work in the community, including Scouting, the Royal British Legion and Oxford’s twin city link with Leiden in Holland.

Mrs Butcher, of Brasenose Drive, Kidlington, has spent a lifetime in Scouting, starting as a teenage assistant Cub mistress and in time, a Cub Scout leader.

READ MORE: Sobell House prepares for busy year with fundraising events

Eventually, she took on the role of Assistant District Commissioner (ADC) of the then Oxford Isis district, overseeing cub packs.

Within two years, the Isis district merged with others in the city to form the Oxford Spires district representing 17 city groups and she continued as ADC of the enlarged group.

Later, she was promoted to District Commissioner and inspired many young people to join the Scout movement. She held the role for six years.

Her dedication to Scouting continues as chairman of the District Executive Committee and Commissioner for Adult Support.

Oxford Mail: Val and Bill ButcherWith her husband Bill, she also still supports Scouting events in a ‘hands-on’ capacity, particularly organising camps in Oxfordshire for visiting Scouts from home and abroad.

READ MORE: Music festival noise is a public nuisance say residents 

Mrs Butcher’s contribution to Scouting was rewarded in 2006 when she was given the Silver Acorn for distinguished service and in 2021, the Silver Wolf, the highest award given by the Scout Association for “services of the most exceptional character”.

She and her husband, a retired police officer, are staunch supporters of the Royal British Legion and organise Poppy sales to support war veterans in the run-up to Remembrance Day every November.

She has been treasurer of Oxford’s twin city link with Leiden in Holland for more than 20 years and she and her husband have organised various exchanges with Oxford and Leiden Scouts and police.

Other voluntary duties with her husband have included helping to run the Covid clinic at Exeter Hall, Kidlington, and acting as an exam invigilator at Gosford Hill School in the village.

Mrs Butcher said: “I feel honoured to be given the award. When I first heard, I could not believe it. It was something I never expected. It was hard not to be able to tell the family or anyone until the embargo ended, particularly over Christmas.”

She is full of praise for the support of her husband. “I would not have been able to do it all without Bill’s support,” she said.

Help support trusted local news 

Sign up for a digital subscription now: oxfordmail.co.uk/subscribe 

As a digital subscriber you will get: 

  • Unlimited access to the Oxford Mail website 
  • Advert-light access 
  • Reader rewards 
  • Full access to our app 

About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.