Downing Street Should Apologise Says Nigel Rock

9.56.52pm GMT Sun 13th Jan 2008

Councillor Nigel Rock, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Kenilworth & Southam, has written to 10 Downing Street to take up the case of a local resident who has been upset by the mishandling of an MBE for her late husband.

Mrs Jean Smith of Napton received a letter in November advising her that her husband had been recommended for an award, but the offer was promptly withdrawn when it was discovered that her husband had died during the 2 1/2 years it had taken to process the nomination.

In fact it was Nigel Rock, working with other members of the local community that had originally nominated Alan Smith for the award. Alan started the first community defibrillation "First Responder" scheme in the UK, which has now turned into a national scheme.

Alan worked with the British Heart Foundation to get the first village defibrillator unit, which gives an electric shock to stabilise the heart rhythm. He worked for many years for the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC) working to stop people getting electric shocks, and had written several books about electrical safety. Alan suffered with Parkinson's disease, but had responded by becoming heavily involved with the Parkinson's Disease Society.

Alan was also active in a number of other community and charitable activities:- the annual Napton charity bike ride, swimming tuition, WI website and publishing village information booklets.

Mrs Smith said "We were thrilled to bits and wrote back saying would be happy to accept the MBE for him. When I opened the following letter I was so angry and upset. All the things that Alan had done do not die with him, they continue to flourish today." She went on to say "The family is so grateful to Nigel for putting Alan's name forward, even though the award has now had to be withdrawn. You have to have someone like Nigel to promote these things otherwise they just wouldn't happen at all."

Nigel Rock said "There definitely seems to be somewhat flawed processes here. Whilst I can see some need for confidentiality in particular cases, the process itself is not open. As far as I can see the problem was that Alan did much for the community - in fact too much for the Whitehall machine who have just been bouncing information backwards and forwards. What is the most distressing is that I notified the honours secretariat of Mr Smith's passing some 10 months ago."

Mrs Smith said "I'm glad at Nigel is taking this up with 10 Downing St -- the system needs putting right."

10 Downing St have told reporters that a mistake has been made for which they apologise. Nigel Rock went on to say "It is all very well telling a reporter they apologise - they should be writing to Mr Smith's family and all the people that worked hard to bring his nomination forward."