‘Shocked’ Bristol cleaner ‘proud’ to get medal in King’s Birthday Honours List

A college cleaner from Bristol says she is ‘amazed’ to have been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the King’s Birthday Honours.

Pauline Franklin from Brislington has worked as a cleaner at St Brendan’s Sixth Form College for 35 years and the award is to recognise her long and dedicated service. Cleaning supervisor Pauline said: “I just couldn’t believe it, I was in shock to think I had been nominated for this. My family are so proud.

“I started as a cleaner and progressed to be a cleaning supervisor. I’ve done safeguarding and first aid training - in fact, I’ve done everything from being caretaker to unlocking the gates.

“I wouldn’t work anywhere else and I feel proud to represent St Brendan’s with this fantastic award.”

Since the news of the award, principal Marian Curran says Pauline has become something of a celebrity in the college and staff have started to jokingly use the nickname ‘her majesty’ when they see the popular cleaner.

Pauline says: “I know all the students, and I know a lot their parents from the time they were students and they’re all stopping me in the corridors, everybody has been amazing about it. It’s a wonderful college to work for and I’m so grateful to be nominated. I’m just happy to come to work every day, proud to look after the place and keep it clean for the students and staff every day.”

Principal Marian said: “Pauline contributes to our results as a college because students and staff come into nice clean and tidy classrooms. Pauline contributes to an environment for learning, which is amazing.

“Pauline has been going above and beyond for us for so long on so many different things. When you get that level of service from somebody who goes quietly about their business, I just thought it needed proper recognition and it epitomises what we do at the college. Pauline is absolutely fantastic with all of our students and very popular. She’s a star - nothing is too much trouble for her.

“During Covid-19, when there was a lot of illness and absences, Pauline was always here, sometimes covering for absent colleagues and working very long shifts.

“Pauline can go from working in the canteen one minute to helping a student who’s having a severe panic attack the next. She makes the students feel calm and feel that there’s somebody who really understands them. There are so many examples - the work Pauline does is highly valued.”

Pauline doesn’t yet know when she will be invited to collect her medal in London but says her family will be going with her and she says it would be ‘amazing’ to meet one of the Royal family. Principal Marian added: “Perhaps the Royal family can come down to open our new sports facilities and have a kick around when they’re here!”