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2010 New Year's Honours List

Order of the British Empire, Member (MBE) - Mrs Alison Mary Smedley, secretary of Stoke-on-Trent Branch of the IWA and member of the Caldon Canal Society. For services to Inland Waterways.

Order of the British Empire - The Order's motto is For God and the Empire. It is the most junior of the British orders of chivalry, and the largest, with over 100,000 living members worldwide We congratulate Mrs Alison Smedley MBE of Denford, Leek, Staffordshire, awarded the MBE for closely working with boat clubs and waterway societies in ther area and the lobbying of local politicians, particularly Staffordshire Moorlands MP Charlotte Atkins, IWA’s 2008 Parliamentarian of the Year.

Mrs Smedley MBE is a 40-year-old mother-of-one and the Secretary and a former Chairman of the IWA Stoke on Trent Branch, and also a former Trustee of the IWA.

Mrs Smedley MBE is quoted as saying: "I spent part of my childhood living on a barge on the River Thames. Once actively involved in IWA London Region and Waterway Recovery Group for 7 years before moving to Staffordshire, so I have been actively involved for 17 years. I moved to Staffordshire. about 10 years ago when I got involved with the local canals society."