Aubrey Emerson M.B.E.

Shock! Surprise! Why me? It must be a mistake! These were just some of the reactions that one of our members got, when a letter popped through his letterbox. Aubrey Emerson had been a deputy head at Henry Fanshaw School in Dronfield, so he thought little could shock him. He was so shocked that for a brief moment he even considered not accepting it. Even more surprising, the letter told him not to tell anyone of its contents. So for several weeks Aubrey kept the amazing news, that he had been put forward for an M.B.E., to himself.

Eventually, the news broke as Aubrey Emerson’s name was announced in the Queens New Year’s honours list, for services to the community. Then it really happened! The cards, photographs in the paper, interviews with the media, phone calls from friends and family. “The second shock after the award was the reaction I got” said Aubrey. “I really couldn’t believe the number of cards and congratulations” said the shy unassuming man from Ecclesall. I was literally overwhelmed.

This reaction of why me and I haven’t done much to deserve this is typical of Aubrey. “What a deserving man”, and “it could not have happened to a nicer person” were the typical comments flowing from members of Banner Cross Methodist Church.

Aubrey’s was born and educated in the North-East of England. He eventually met and fell in love with June. At Leeds University he studied maths, and it was whilst he was here that he felt he had heard the call of God to become a Christian. By 1957 he had become a Methodist lay-preacher.

On leaving university he was going into teaching, but once again he heard God’s call, and decided to train for the ministry. Whilst training Aubrey became ill with what he describes as a much still misunderstood illness. Like many people with a mental illness, he felt he was totally misunderstood. His illness was so serious he finished up in hospital.

The long road to recovery began and Aubrey puts much of this down to the dedication of his then girlfriend, now wife, June. In Aubrey’s own words “It would have been so easy and indeed understandable if June had walked away at this stage. She was young, training to be a nurse, with a bright future ahead of her”. She didn’t she leave him, but visited him constantly, and slowly nursed him back to health. This was to be the basis of the strong marriage and partnership that endures today.

Aubrey became a teacher, and by 1965 was in Sheffield teaching. He came to Banner Cross Methodist Church in 1965 with June and they have been deeply involved ever since.

June and Aubrey set up home in Sheffield and had two children Jane and Sally. One of the children Jane had the challenge of blindness to face but with typical Emerson resolve she graduated from University, lived in Germany for a year, and now works as a welfare rights advisor. Sally’s greatest contribution to Aubrey and June’s lives is their grandson Ahmed, who is now 9.

However it is for his quiet work and dedication with people who suffer from schizophrenia and other mental issues for which most people know Aubrey. Having recovered from his illness in typical fashion Aubrey decided to help other people, who found themselves in a similar position. Realising what lack of support there was for sufferers and their families, Aubrey set about forming a group in Sheffield under the banner of the National Schizophrenia Fellowship, later to become RETHINK. From small beginnings, based on support groups for suffers and families, under his guidance the Sheffield group is one of the biggest in the country. It even runs housing schemes for people with mental illness.

It is used as a model for others to emulate. Whilst Aubrey would deny it, and insists it was a team effort, it is recognised that much of what has been achieved is down to Aubrey’s drive, dedication and sheer Christian commitment to the cause.

On the 2 June 2009 Aubrey received his M.B.E. from the Queen proudly watched by June, Sally and Ahmed and supported by Jane.   "I was poked in my ribs by a Rear Admiral. He believed I was delaying my approach to the Queen in Buckingham Palace to receive my Member of the British Empire Medal. I was with 93 award winners including the Duke of Devonshire and the Olympic swimming medallist Rebecca Adlington. The Queen spoke to each person, shook hands and was genuinely interested in everybody. "

"It was a morning of surprises. Walking across the Palace forecourt June's hat blew away, and I had to run really fast to catch it, much to the delight of the camera happy tourists. Entering the Palace, what I thought were statues, were stationary members of the Household Guard in their splendid uniforms with gleaming helmets, breast plates and drawn swords. "

We know you are still amazed at receiving the reward Aubrey, but we’re not.