President of the Safe Communities Portugal association, David Thomas, has been awarded an MBE for his services to Public Safety and to British Nationals in Portugal.
This is David’s second award as in 2016 HM the Queen approved the award of the British Empire Medal (Civil Division) “For services to crime prevention and awareness within the British and international community in Portugal”.
Standing for Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, an MBE is the third highest ranking Order of the British Empire award (excluding a knighthood/damehood), behind CBE and then OBE.
An MBE according to the Gazette is usually “Awarded for an outstanding achievement or service to the community. This will have had a long-term and significant impact.”
David will be presented with the MBE medal sometime during 2021.
David said “I am very honoured to receive this award. It would not be so without the work of a great team at Safe Communities, nor the support of the community we serve. The fact that this is for work in Portugal shows the close collaboration that exists with the Portuguese government and reflects well on the support and encouragement that they have shown”.
W: https://www.safecommunitiesportugal.com/
Comments
But on occasions like this, I always ask myself whether it is appropriate any longer to refer to the British Empire; and more particularly, whether it is appropriate to make such an award for service in a foreign country.
Charles Boxer famously twice turned down a CBE, because he said there was no longer a British Empire to be Commander of.