Ashfield District Council Celebrates Community Champion Peter Edwards MBE

Ashfield District Council is proud to celebrate the achievements of Peter Edwards, a long‑standing and highly respected member of our community, who was formally presented with his MBE on 18 May 2026 by His Majesty’s Lord‑Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, Professor Veronica Pickering MBS HAC.

The ceremony, held at the Manor Rooms in Teversal, brought together partners, dignitaries, and community representatives to honour Peter’s extraordinary contribution to Ashfield. Chief Executive Theresa Hodgkinson attended on behalf of the Council alongside Liz Barrett OBE.

For more than three decades, Peter has embodied the spirit of Ashfield showing resilience, community pride, and a commitment to improving the lives of others. His leadership of the Ashfield Health and Wellbeing Partnership, his service on the Discover Ashfield Board, and his tireless advocacy for disabled sport have helped shape the district’s identity and strengthened the support available to residents.

Peter’s work has aligned closely with the Council’s priorities around health, inclusion, and community development. His involvement in youth mentoring, charity fundraising, and heritage projects, including the annual Ashfield Youth Festival and initiatives to preserve the district’s industrial history, has made a lasting impact on local people.

After losing a leg in a mining accident in 1989, Peter moved to Ashfield and rebuilt his life with remarkable determination. He went on to represent Yorkshire and Humberside in amputee football, compete as a regional champion swimmer with Sherwood Seals, and play wheelchair basketball for 18 years. His later career as a swimming coach enabled him to support athletes with a wide range of disabilities, further strengthening Ashfield’s inclusive sporting community.

Theresa Hodgkinson, Chief Executive of Ashfield District Council, said:

“Peter represents the very best of Ashfield. His dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to others have shaped our communities for the better.

We are incredibly proud of everything he has achieved in our community and deeply grateful for the decades he has devoted to supporting residents across the district. This honour is a fitting recognition of a man who has given so much, and we are delighted to celebrate this moment with him.”

The MBE, announced in the King’s Birthday Honours list last year, recognises Peter’s exceptional service and his lifelong dedication to improving the lives of others in Ashfield.

Posted on 20 May 2026