Thatcham women collect MBEs
A teacher and the founder of a wheelchair basketball club collected their awards from Windsor Castle
TWO Thatcham women were celebrating at Windsor Castle last week after collecting their MBE medals.
Teresa Dawes, of Trent Crescent, and Jacqueline Cass (pictured), of Simmons Field, were appointed MBEs in the Queen's Birthday Honours earlier this year and received their medals from Princess Anne last Thursday.
Mrs Dawes, aged 62, was recognised for her services to education, after spending the majority of her teaching career in Newbury at Shaw House and Trinity School.
Mrs Dawes has also undertaken voluntary work at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers for the past six years.
She was accompanied to the ceremony by her husband Robert, son Philip and daughter Elizabeth.
Her eldest son Stephen was unable to attend as he was serving in Afghanistan.
Mrs Dawes said: “It was a wonderful day.
“It was a very proud moment for me and my family and it was fascinating to meet so many other recipients.
“It was a real celebration of what people have contributed to their communities.”
The founder of the Thames Valley Kings Wheelchair Basketball Club, 26-year-old Jacqueline Cass, was appointed an MBE for voluntary service.
She was joined on the day by her parents, Gillian and David, and her fiancée Peter Scoins.
Over the seven years since the club started, she has raised £40,000 to buy specialist wheelchairs.
Miss Cass said that she was quite shocked that, by the age of 26, she had already been appointed an MBE.
She added that when she received her medal, Princess Anne asked her why she had started the club, how the players were doing and about London 2012 Paralympics.
Miss Cass said: “It was amazing to think that out of all the people in the voluntary world, I was picked.
“I have just been doing what I'm doing because I enjoy it.
“My family were definitely proud of me.
"I could see them while I was waiting to go forward and they were beaming.
“We had a really fantastic day – I felt like a celebrity
