Adjutant of the Charterhouse Combined Cadet Force (CCF), Captain Verna Burrell-Taylor attended Buckingham Palace on Friday 19 May to be invested by HRH The Prince of Wales, as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). Captain Burrell-Taylor’s MBE was announced in Her Majesty’s New Year’s Honours List 2017.
Andrew Turner, Headmaster, says: "We are delighted that Verna has been awarded an MBE in recognition of her 32 years’ service to the Cadets. Her professionalism and enthusiasm is much appreciated by us all at Charterhouse and we are pleased for Verna that her dedication has been recognised beyond the School."
The citation for Captain Burrell-Taylor’s MBE is as follows:
This is a heart-warming and inspiring tale of the volunteer ethos at its very best. Captain Burrell-Taylor has been fundamental in shaping generations of young people. Her lifetime dedication and unbelievable commitment to cadet rifle shooting has been, and still is, absolutely phenomenal.
For over 32 years, Captain Burrell-Taylor has voluntarily given three evenings every week and 10 weekends every year in the service of cadet rifle shooting. She does not seek any reward save for the quiet satisfaction that comes through inspiring the next generation. She seldom claims financial recompense for the time she commits. On the rare occasions that she does claim pay, she channels it back to the cadets either directly by buying refreshments, badges and the like or indirectly by buying new equipment for the club. A more altruistic person you would struggle to find.
Her passion for nurturing and nourishing the grass roots of rifle shooting is quite staggering. Over 32 years she has voluntarily worked tirelessly to instil a love for her sport into hundreds of cadets. Captain Burrell - Taylor has an amazing knack of taking groups of the most sullen and un-engaged teenagers and through persistence and seemingly boundless enthusiasm, coached these gun shy, nervous cadets into outgoing, enthused young adults. She imparts an understanding of the perils of firearms whilst at the same time the sense of high achievement from attainment of success at a chosen sport. She has an enviable ability to turn a boy with only the vaguest interest in shooting into a national shot. Generations of cadets, over many years, have achieved great things, especially in gaining representative honours. 24 cadets have shot competitively for the Commonwealth and in the last four years alone 16 cadets have been selected for the English Schools shooting team, more than any other school in the country. Through her hard work and dedication, Captain Burrell – Taylor’s shooting team is rightly known as the best in South East England and routinely finishes in the top three of national competitions.
The General Secretary for the Council for Cadet Rifle Shooting said that Captain Burrell - Taylor is “a shining example of everything that is great about coaching rifle shooting; she is dedicated, enthusiastic and selfless. She has voluntarily given a lifetime of terrific service to nurturing the grass roots of this sport and this organisation is indebted to her”.
Every week she volunteers to go the extra mile for the sake of cadets because of her deep rooted desire to add value to an organisation, a sport and the cadets who she cares deeply about. That she has continued to do this year after year after year is utterly remarkable. She epitomises daily the standards of dedication and selflessness. For this incredibly loyal and unstintingly tireless example Captain Burrell - Taylor richly deserves public recognition. She would probably give the medal to the cadets!
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Photographs top to bottom:
- Captain Verna Burrell-Taylor at her reception outside Armoury at Charterhouse
- outside Buckingham Palace with her MBE medal
- with Charterhouse cadets shortly after her MBE was announced in the New Year’s Honours List.