We are delighted announce and to share with you today, the wonderful news that Dawn Taylor has been recognised in the New Year Honours List and has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) by His Majesty The King. This honour is in recognition of her outstanding work and dedicated service to the people of Rossendale, through all she has done for the Rossendale Community First Responders & Community Defibrillators for Rossendale.
You may also hear Dawn speaking about this achievement on BBC Radio Lancashire or see her featured on BBC North West news today (30th January 2025).
Dawn has said:
I am greatly honoured to have been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) ‘For services to the community in Rossendale, Lancashire.‘
All my community work has been supported by my husband, Ken, (who got quite used to finishing cooking the dinner when the pager went off calling me to a medical incident), my family and friends, my past employer, Booth King Partnership Ltd, and the many members of the fantastic, award-winning Rossendale Community First Responder team and our North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) colleagues.
In December 2009, I received the Rossendale Woman of the Year Award from Rossendale Hospice, having been nominated by members of Team Rossendale CFRs. This was a total surprise to me! Over the Christmas period, I began to consider how I could use the Award to raise the profile of community care. Knowing how important Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are in the care of Sudden Cardiac Arrest patients and having seen items on the internet about public access AEDs elsewhere in the world, I approached two of my CFR colleagues – Brian Pickup and Andrew Walmsley – to see if they would support the idea of installing the devices in Rossendale. Together we formed Community Defibs for Rossendale. In February 2011, we installed what we believe was the first Community Public Access Defibrillator (CPAD) in the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) area on Bank Street, Rawtenstall. Funds for this, and subsequent units, were raised by members of the community. In 2025, there are currently over 90 units in the Valley.
My sincere thanks to all those who have supported me throughout my journey. I am very grateful for the support and encouragement I have received over the past 21 years during my time with the Rossendale CFR Team, in particular my mentors Brian Pickup, Richard Peters, Andrew Walmsley and Dean Hebden.
From a perspective of 2025 alone 999 people have been trained in the No Fear CPR/AED training that Dawn attends every session. Over her time with Rossendale Community First Responders & Rossendale Community Defibs for Rossendale we estimate that’s well over 15000 people in the valley that she has had involvement in training.
Please join us in offering our warmest congratulations to Dawn on receiving this prestigious and thoroughly deserved award.
The Gazette which is the formal publication of recipients of Honours can be viewed here.
Regards,
Kelvin Rice David Chatburn
Duty Team Leaders
Rossendale Community First Responder Team
www.rossendalefirstresponders.org.uk
