Gibraltar Medallion of Honour
Encyclopedia
The Gibraltar Medallion of Honour (GMH) is a civil award scheme established by the Government of the British overseas territory
of Gibraltar
. Its creation was announced in July 2008 by Chief Minister of Gibraltar
, Peter Caruana
. It ranks below the Freedom of the City of Gibraltar.
and others who the Parliament considers have served and contributed to the interests of Gibraltar and its people in an exceptional manner that is particularly worthy of special recognition by the House on behalf of the people of Gibraltar".
Once approved by Parliament, the awards are officially announced by the Mayor of Gibraltar
prior to the symbolic release of the red and white balloons on Gibraltar National Day
. The Mayor then presents the recipients with the Medallions in a private ceremony held at a later date.
In July 2011, Parliament passed a motion allowing all Medallion recipients to use the letters GMH after their name as is done with Queen's honours
.
ly, upon the following persons:
British overseas territories
The British Overseas Territories are fourteen territories of the United Kingdom which, although they do not form part of the United Kingdom itself, fall under its jurisdiction. They are remnants of the British Empire that have not acquired independence or have voted to remain British territories...
of Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
. Its creation was announced in July 2008 by Chief Minister of Gibraltar
Chief Minister of Gibraltar
The Chief Minister of Gibraltar is the leader of the largest party elected to the Gibraltar Parliament, and is formally appointed by the Governor of Gibraltar, representative of the British Crown.-List of Chief Ministers:...
, Peter Caruana
Peter Caruana
Peter Richard Caruana, QC is a Gibraltarian politician, and has been Chief Minister of Gibraltar since 1996, when his party, the Gibraltar Social Democrats , first came to power. His party was re-elected to office in 2000, 2003 and 2007...
. It ranks below the Freedom of the City of Gibraltar.
Award
The Gibraltar Medallion of Honour is awarded annually by the Gibraltar Parliament on "living or deceased GibraltariansGibraltarian people
The Gibraltarians are a cultural group native to Gibraltar, a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance to the Mediterranean sea.- Origins :...
and others who the Parliament considers have served and contributed to the interests of Gibraltar and its people in an exceptional manner that is particularly worthy of special recognition by the House on behalf of the people of Gibraltar".
Once approved by Parliament, the awards are officially announced by the Mayor of Gibraltar
Mayor of Gibraltar
His or Her Worship, the Mayor of Gibraltar, is currently the ceremonial official of the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. The Mayor is appointed by the elected Members of Parliament and takes residency in the City Hall...
prior to the symbolic release of the red and white balloons on Gibraltar National Day
Gibraltar National Day
Gibraltar National Day, celebrated annually on 10 September, is the official national day of the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. The day commemorates Gibraltar's first sovereignty referendum of 1967, in which Gibraltarian voters were asked whether they wished to either pass under Spanish...
. The Mayor then presents the recipients with the Medallions in a private ceremony held at a later date.
In July 2011, Parliament passed a motion allowing all Medallion recipients to use the letters GMH after their name as is done with Queen's honours
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
.
Recipients
2008
Upon the award's establishment, the Gibraltar Medallion of Honour was bestowed, posthumousPosthumous
Posthumous or Posthumus may refer to:People* Ladislaus the Posthumous, 15th-century monarch in Bohemia, Hungary, and Austria* Posthumus, a character in Shakespeare's play, Cymbeline* Dick Posthumus, Michigan politician...
ly, upon the following persons:
- Albert RissoAlbert RissoAlbert J. Risso, GMH was a Gibraltarian trade unionist and politician. He was the first president of the Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights in Gibraltar.-Career:...
— for services to trade unionTrade unionA trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
ism. - Jacobo Azagury — for services to art.
- Rudecindo Mania — for services to art.
- William Gomez — for services to musicMusic of GibraltarGibraltar is a British overseas territory with many musical influences. Rock based music is undergoing a renaissance with a multitude of local bands playing original material and covers...
. - Joseph Pitaluga — for public service.
- Dorothy EllicottDorothy EllicottDorothy May Ellicott, MBE, OBE, GMH, JP, was a Gibraltarian historian and politician.-Early life:Dorothy Ellicott was born in Havant, Hampshire, England in the last quarter of 1901. She was raised in Gibraltar having relocated there with her parents at the age of 5 when her father was transferred...
— for public service and service to heritage. - Manolo Mascarenhas — for service to broadcastingGibraltar Broadcasting CorporationThe Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation is Gibraltar's public service broadcaster. It has provided the community with a radio and television service since 1963.-History:...
. - John Mackintosh — for philanthropyPhilanthropyPhilanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
. - Peter IsolaPeter IsolaPeter Joseph Isola, OBE, GMH , was a Gibraltarian politician and lawyer. He succeeded Maurice Xiberras as leader of the Democratic Party of British Gibraltar , a political party in Gibraltar.-Early life and career:...
— for services to politicsPolitics of GibraltarGibraltar is represented in the European Union, having been the only British overseas territory which joined the EC under the British Treaty of Accession ....
. - Aaron Cardozo — for services to Gibraltar.
2009
The 2009 recipients of the Gibraltar Medallion of Honour were:- Jose Netto — for services to trade unionism and workers.
- Adolfo CanepaAdolfo CanepaAdolfo John Canepa was a Gibraltarian politician. He has dedicated most of his life to politics and the development of Gibraltar, having served both as Leader of the Opposition and as Chief Minister of Gibraltar from 8 December 1987 to 25 March 1988...
, (former Chief MinisterChief Minister of GibraltarThe Chief Minister of Gibraltar is the leader of the largest party elected to the Gibraltar Parliament, and is formally appointed by the Governor of Gibraltar, representative of the British Crown.-List of Chief Ministers:...
) — for public servicesPublic servicesPublic services is a term usually used to mean services provided by government to its citizens, either directly or by financing private provision of services. The term is associated with a social consensus that certain services should be available to all, regardless of income...
and services to politics. - Joseph GaggeroJoseph GaggeroJoseph James Gaggero CBE KHS is a Gibraltarian businessman. He is president of The Bland Group of Companies, which concentrate their business in shipping, aviation and travel.-Early and personal life:...
— for services to aviationAviationAviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
, shippingShippingShipping has multiple meanings. It can be a physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo, by land, air, and sea. It also can describe the movement of objects by ship.Land or "ground" shipping can be by train or by truck...
, businessBusinessA business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
and commerceCommerceWhile business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
. - Maurice XiberrasMaurice XiberrasMaurice Xiberras is a retired Gibraltarian teacher, trade unionist and politician. He is regarded as being a strong defender of British sovereignty, who believes there is no future for Gibraltar without the continuing close relationship with the United Kingdom....
— for public services and services to politics.
2010
The 2010 sole recipient of the Gibraltar Medallion of Honour was:- Bernard Linares — for services to religionReligionReligion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
, trade unionism, educationEducationEducation in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, public service and politics.
2011
The 2011 sole recipient of the Gibraltar Medallion of Honour was:- Kaiane AldorinoKaiane AldorinoKaiane Aldorino, GMH is a Gibraltarian beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Gibraltar 2009 and Miss World the same year in Johannesburg, South Africa. She was the first Miss Gibraltar ever to reach the semifinals of the Miss World beauty pageant.-Personal life:Aldorino was born in...
— for personal achievement in becoming Miss World 2009Miss World 2009Miss World 2009, the 59th Miss World pageant, was held on December 12, 2009 at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa. 112 contestants from all over the world competed for the crown, marking the biggest turnout in the pageant's history...
.
The Roll of Honour
A roll of Medallion recipients is kept: the Roll of Honour. Every year the historical roll is published. Besides the recipients of the Medallion, all Freedom of the City holders are automatically entered into the roll. They are the following:- Gustavo BacarisasGustavo BacarisasGustavo Bacarisa was a Gibraltarian painter. He was born in Gibraltar and died in Seville, Spain. His work, of a figurative style and varied themes, is characterised by the rich use of colour.-Career:...
(painter) - James Joseph Giraldi (doctor)
- Sir Joshua Abraham HassanJoshua HassanSir Joshua Abraham Hassan, GBE, KCMG, LVO, QC , nicknamed "Salvador" , was a Gibraltarian politician, and first Mayor and Chief Minister of Gibraltar, serving two terms as Chief Minister for a total of 17 years...
(former Mayor and Chief Minister) - Sir Robert PelizaRobert PelizaSir Robert John "Bob" Peliza, KBE, ED is a Gibraltarian politician. He founded and led the Integration with Britain Party and was the second Chief Minister of Gibraltar serving in office from 6 August 1969 to 25 June 1972...
(former Chief Minister) - The Rt Revd Monsignor Patrick Devlin (former Roman Catholic BishopRoman Catholic Bishop of GibraltarThe Bishop of Gibraltar is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gibraltar which is immediately subject to the Holy See.The see is in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar where the bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral of St...
) - The Rt Hon Lord Merrivale
- The Lord Bethel
- The Lord Hoyle