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Veteran volunteer Marguerite Talmage was waiting to board a plane to Alderney when she was informed that she was being awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the community by His Majesty King Charles III.
“I'm very proud of following my mother's footsteps. Joan Ozanne was awarded the BEM a few years ago now for what she had done for the arts community in Guernsey,” she told Express.
Volunteering has been a passion of hers since she was a girl, and something she continued because of the friends that can be made along the way.
“I joined the Pony Club Junior Committee when I was 14 and haven't looked back.I just really enjoy being involved in causes that I really believe in and joining teams that have the same enthusiasm,” Ms Talmage said.
“That's one of the things that comes out of volunteering and community involvement - is making friendships that last.
“I feel very honoured that I've had the award and I'm receiving the award, and I was made aware of it in April. In fact, I was in the departure lounge at the airport to go to Alderney when I got the phone call."
Her most public-facing work in recent years has been on the board at Grow, where she was asked to lead the fundraising for the charity’s now-completed major redevelopment project.
“I was asked to join the board six or seven years ago to help fundraise for the redevelopment project. And of course, that's what we did.We now have fabulous new facilities, thanks to the generosity of the Guernsey public.”
While the BEM is a personal honour, she said it was a good reflection on the charity at large.
“It’s so rewarding to go to Grow and see the impact we have been able to provide for our crew, adults with learning disabilities, is having such a positive impact on them now.”
Pictured: Ms Talmage during the fundraising round for the Grow redevelopment project.
Ms Talmage has also worked with Floral Guernsey for around two decades and worked on the St Peter’s Floral team since 2007 as her home parish went on to win several national accolades, including six gold medals.
“We achieved a gold standard and category winner of four Britain in Bloom Awards nationally and followed that up with a runoff of the Champion of Champions Award.”
And the friendships endured there too.
“That was really very special because that was throughout the whole nation. That team – Floral Guernsey - we've been together now for something like 20 years, and we're still really good friends.”
Another initiative she helped bring to fruition was introducing a therapy dog service to the island – previously unchartered territory.
This too was born out of previous volunteering experiences, with her own dogs barking in the background as we chatted on the phone.
“I volunteered with the national charity called Pet Therapy six or seven years ago, briefly, and I realised just how much benefit there was for people in vulnerable situations with the help of dogs,” she said.
“So I and a couple of friends set up Well-being Animals Guernsey - WAG. We now have over 30 dogs who regularly visit schools, care homes, hospital wards and so on.
Ms Talmage has no plans to exit the sector soon.
“I just really enjoy being involved. Of course, with Grow which is enduring and something I'll continue to be involved with. I just enjoy volunteering down there,” she said.
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