‘I THOUGHT HONOURS LIST EMAIL WAS JUST A SCAM’
Oak Tree Farm Rural Project manager awarded British Empire Medal
WHEN David Moreton received an email to tell him he had been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, he thought it was a scam.
The 55-year-old has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to people with learning disabilities in Staffordshire.
David is general manager at the Oak Tree Farm Rural Project, based in Hilderstone, which has been providing training and activities for adults with learning disabilities since the 1980s.
Despite devoting himself to the project for 31 years, David was stunned to learn he had been awarded the honour.
He said: “I’m really suspicious of emails I’m not expecting and I thought it was a scam.
“It took me a while to even open it. I feel very flattered and honoured. It’s wonderful.”
Oak Tree Farm, which received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2014, is situated on a 15acre smallholding and is part of the Harrowby Estate of Sandon.
Those who attend, known as team members, help look after the animals and grow plants, vegetables and cut flowers.
There is also a pottery to make ceramics, and they can gain catering experience in the Oak Leaf Tea Room which is open to the public, but is currently closed due to the pandemic.
David, who lives at Tittensor, said: “The project was set up by parents of people with learning disabilities in Stafford. My little sister Lizzie has Downs Syndrome and my mum was one of the parents involved.
“I came out of college and said I would stay for a year, and I have been here 31 years. It just suited me, and that’s why this honour feels so unusual to me.
“It is very busy but it’s not hard work really, it’s a pleasure.
“I have said to the team members I work with that I want to share this honour with them. I want to pay tribute to them.”
Covid-19 has presented huge challenges for the project. Staff closed the doors in March, but have been able to welcome team members back over the past couple of months.
David said: “Through lockdown we just had one member of staff going in on any one day to look after the animals. The plants we would normally have grown went out to team members to grow in their homes, and the surplus went to other organisations in Stafford and Stone.
“We now have 36 team members back from around 52, which is great. It has been hard financially, but we are okay.”