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Theatre group founder makes King's honours list

Dan Wareing
BBC News, Cornwall
BBC Judith has shoulder length blonde hair, is smiling, and wearing a set of sunglasses. She is wearing a blue jumper on top of a pink shirt.BBC
Judith Nicholls founded the Penzance-based Stage-Struck Theatre Company back in 1996

A theatre group founder is among 11 people from Cornwall who have been named in the King's Birthday Honours.

Three have been awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), six have been made Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), and two have been given British Empire Medals (BEM).

More than 1,200 people across the UK received awards as part of the King's Birthday Honours list, given to people who make "outstanding contributions to their community and the country".

Judith Nicholls, founder of Stage-Struck Theatre Company in Penzance, received a BEM and said: "I was very surprised to get the award, and if I didn't have imposter syndrome already, I do now."

A wide shot of Judith kneeling for a full cast photo. She is smiling, and wearing a maroon hoodie. She has blonde shoulder length hair.
Judith Nicholls said her new BEM title will "not change anything" about the way she works

Ms Nicholls, 64, founded the company back in 1996 and said the work is a "huge part of her life" and that she intends to keep going.

She got the accolade for services to young people in Penzance.

Her community theatre group is for people aged 15 and older, and stages multiple productions every year.

She said: "It doesn't change anything because I'm just going to get on with the theatre company.

"It's been a huge part of my life for 30 years and I'm going to keep on doing it."

The full list of Cornish recipients includes:

  • Richard Leslie Kramer OBE, for services to people with disabilities
  • Lisa Mannall OBE, for services to education
  • Peter Geraint Richards OBE, for services to the forestry sector
  • Tracey Bright MBE, for services to older people
  • Tamsin Daniel MBE, for services to heritage, Cornish distinctiveness and to the community in Cornwall
  • Sarah Mansbridge MBE, for services to art
  • Melvyn Westley Roffe MBE, for services to education and to the community in Edinburgh
  • Timothy David Taylor MBE, for services to archaeology and heritage
  • Percival Ross Williams MBE, for services to heritage and to culture in Cornwall
  • Katherine Helen Condon BEM, for services to charitable fundraising
  • Judith Ann Elizabeth Nicholls BEM, for services to young people in Penzance

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