Exeter octogenarian honoured with British Empire Medal

Octogenarian Ken Bovey has received the British Empire Medal for a lifetime’s voluntary charitable service through The Salvation Army. 

Ken Bovey, 84, has devoted his life to serving his community through The Salvation Army in Exeter. He has been actively involved in, and in many cases been the driving force behind, community fundraising activities undertaken in Exeter, helping raise thousands of pounds for the work of The Salvation Army and that of local charities. Additionally, Ken has taught young musicians, taken up various responsibilities at Exeter Temple Salvation Army Corps (Church) and, with his wife, Jo, ensured students new to the area received a warm welcome by organising student lunches. 

The British Empire Medal was reinstated for the Diamond Jubilee. The letter informing Ken he would be honoured in this way came as a surprise. He said: “It still is a bit of a shock. I was just doing what I had always done. But it’s lovely to know the impact you have made on people’s lives.”

Ken joined the band at Exeter St Thomas Corps (Church) on D-Day. In 1958 he was appointed young people’s band leader at Exeter Temple Corps and four years later was commissioned to be responsible for the Sunday school. Ken’s citation reads: “His work as band leader has been inspiring and has enabled him to introduce hundreds of boys and girls to a wider understanding of their potential and place in the world. Kenneth… has the ability to enable young people to experience moments of high significance in their lives and to store these up as powerful memories of youthful achievements for the future.”

The citation describes Ken’s exemplary and selfless commitment to the mission of The Salvation Army – particularly during his service as corps treasurer of the church – as “far beyond that normally expected of a person holding this position. The impact of Kenneth’s dedication has enabled the organisation to provide a far greater level of practical support to the needy in the area and the wider community than would have otherwise been the case.”

Ken is matter of fact about his accomplishments. He said: “The Salvation Army cannot carry out its hands-on social work without public donations, so local corps have to make it possible through fundraising.”

Ken received the British Empire Medal at a ceremony at County Hall from Devon’s Lord Lieutenant Eric Dancer CBE on Monday 8th October 2012.