I wish to express my thanks and congratulations to Jenni Manners of the Swindon Women's Refuge on having been awarded the MBE.

They say that our deeds travel with us and what you have done makes you what you are. Jenni's past deeds have travelled with her and she has at last been recognised for them.

I have known Jenni for some years and she has always impressed me with her honesty, her tenacity, her cheerful, loving and caring nature.

She is a person who has done so much for our community and I know that she has touched and changed the lives of many less fortunate people.

I once read somewhere that "One person looks through the bars and only sees mud while the other person sees stars."

Jenni personifies this. She is never beaten, she is never despondent and is constantly striving to assist others by reaching for those stars.

None of us should ever be able to be at peace while others in our community suffer deprivation and insecurity.

We are blessed in Swindon by having many people such as Jenni and her team that constantly work to alleviate this.

Finally I am so proud that at the start of my Mayoral year I nominated the Swindon Women's Refuge as one of my charities.

Jenni winning the MBE is an honour richly deserved.

Coun Derek Benfield

Mayor of Swindon