Queen honours Pewsey resident

Peter Deck, from Pewsey, has received a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2022 New Year Honours List for services to the local community. Peter Deck spent 19 years as a Pewsey Parish Councillor. During that time he chaired the Pewsey Parish Planning Committee and for 9 years he also chaired the Pewsey Community Area Partnership.

Peter has also been an active committee member of numerous other Pewsey organisations including the Pewsey Gardening Club, and Pewsey Tennis Club.  He was a longtime member of Burbage Cricket Club where he played, coached juniors and umpired. Together with his wife, Judith, he offered support for Pewsey’s weekly market for around 18 years by providing vegetable and fruit from their garden.

Although he did not stand for councillor in the May 2021 elections, he has continued his volunteer activities by marshalling at Covid vaccine clinics and spending a morning a month at the Craft and Tearooms in the village.

Peter told Marlborough.news, “It’s such an honour to receive a BEM. I’m very humbled but chuffed to bits. None of this would have happened without the invaluable support of my wife.”

Peter and Judith moved to Pewsey in 1993 after Peter retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Army Medical Corps –a career that took him to various military hospitals in the UK and in Germany.

Peter cites some of the achievements of Pewsey Parish Council during his involvement – “The Neighbourhood Development Plan was one of the first in the county and we hoped it has set future policy for development across the board – housing, transport, the economy and the environment.

The new Pewsey Leisure Centre, the Rugby Club and junior football pitch pavilions have all been very successful and increased sports provision in the area.

I’m not a Pewsey person but I’ve devoted myself to the welfare of Pewsey. It’s a good place to live – a working village where lots of things go on. It’s beneficial to have organisations running things and they need organisers. It’s worthwhile and fulfilling to get involved. I would encourage others to do the same.”