We are delighted to announce that Ray Key, Master in Turning and Freeman of the Company, has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM), and Assistant Bill O’Leary has been awarded the Queens Volunteer Reserves Medal (QVRM). Many congratulations to both.
Ray Key BEM
Ray Key BEM is one of the premier figures in world turning; he is a member of the Register of Professional Turners and an ambassador both for the craft and our Company around the world. Ray’s work was exhibited at Wizardry in Wood 2012, where he was presented with the first ever Master in Turning Award by the then Sheriff, Alderman Fiona Woolf. Ray Key’s honours nomination, written by Rhidian Jones, (Master 2013 – 2014), further explains Ray’s extraordinary career and dedication to the craft.
Brig Bill O’Leary QVRM TD DL
Brigadier William O’Leary QVRM TD DL joined the company in 2001 and became a Liveryman in 2005. Bill, in the rank of Brigadier, was until recently, Assistant Commander of Force Troops Command located in Upavon. Formed as a result of the Army 2020 study, Force Troops Command is the largest 2* (major general’s) Command in the British Army. Since May 2015, Bill’s current post is Assistant Deputy Military Secretary. This is a new Army Reserve 1 star post created to lead on the Career Management integration of Regular and Reserve Forces.