The Bishop of Dudley, GrahamUsher has presented Paul West, the former Chief Constable of West Mercia Police, with the Cross of St. Wulfstan, an award that pays tribute toindividuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the life of the Churchand wider society in the Diocese of Worcester.
Paul has been a member of theCathedral Council since 2009 and since retiring from policing in 2011, he hastaken up a number of additional voluntary roles within the Diocese. He is Chairof the Board of Trustees at Holland House Retreat and Conference Centre inCropthorne, near Pershore and the Bishop of Worcesters Criminal Justice Adviseras well as a founder member of the Diocesan Criminal Justice Affairs Group. He wasalso nominated by the Bishop to be his representative on the Board of Governorsof Bromsgrove School (where he is currently the Chair of Governors) andrepresents the Diocese as a Trustee on the Board of The Rivers Church ofEngland Multi-Academy Trust. Paul is also a Trustee of the Hartlebury CastlePreservation Trust, which was the former home of successive Bishops ofWorcester over many centuries until 2008.
Paul said: The letter sayingI was to be this year's recipient of the Cross of St. Wulfstan arrived out ofthe blue in December amongst a delivery of Christmas cards. Both my wife and I were at home when I openedit, so she was able to share in my complete surprise and delight, which washighly appropriate in view of the tremendous support that she has given to myvarious activities, both professional and voluntary, over so many years. I am greatly touched by the Bishop's kindgesture. This truly is a unique honour and is one that I will treasure for alltime.
Bishop Graham said: I wasdelighted to award the St. Wulfstan Cross to Paul, who gives a huge amount oftime and energy to the Church in so many different areas. The St. Wulfstan Cross was established tothank those who have given an exemplary service in the Diocese and theres nodoubt that Paul meets this criterion.
In addition to his variousvoluntary roles undertaken on behalf of the Diocese and the Bishop, Paul isvery active in music and charity fundraising in Worcestershire. For example, he and his wife, Rose, havehosted biennial Midsummer Music garden parties since 2008 which, in total, haveraised more than 20,000 for local charities. Additionally, last June he was the main organiser of a very significantevent here in Worcester Cathedral involving the British Police SymphonyOrchestra in a special commemoration of the centenary of the Battle of theSomme that raised almost 5000 for military charities in Worcestershire.
The award was presented to Paulduring a special evensong in the Cathedral for St. Wulfstans Day.
St.Wulfstan/ Wulstan lived c. 1008 - 1095. He served as Bishop ofWorcester under the last two Saxon kings and the first two Norman kings. Afterthe Norman Conquest he was responsible for the dismantling of the old Saxoncathedral and the building of a new one, of which the crypt is the main partstill surviving today. He was at once venerated as a saint by the people of
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