More than 40 years’ service to maritime awarded with a British Empire Medal

A woman responsible for registering deaths and births at sea, who is “an incredible asset to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency”, has been recognised in the 2024 New Year Honours.

Denise Cooke joined the Department for Transport, the MCA’s parent company, on 18 June 1980. More than 40 years later her service to maritime continues, now working in the MCA’s Registry of Shipping and Seamen (RSS).

Registering births and deaths at sea has been Denise’s sole responsibility for many years, which she says is both “challenging and rewarding”.

Now, to celebrate her significant, impactful service, Denise is to be awarded a British Empire Medal.

Finding out about her honours through the post, Denise, based in Cardiff, said: “The letter arrived and I couldn’t get past the first two sentences. It just wouldn’t sink in. I was speechless, I’m just a normal person doing a job.

“To know someone has gone to the trouble to nominate me, I can’t begin to describe how special that is.”

She added: “The MCA is an incredible organisation to work for and the people are a huge part of it, what our colleagues do is just outstanding. They have become my family.”

A career highlight for Denise was two weeks into joining the RSS in 1990. While working on the medals desk, Denise discovered her father, part of the Merchant Navy, had never collected his medal for service during the Second World War.

She was able to complete the collection process and present him with his medal.

“It was incredibly emotional,” she said, “He’d never spoken about his time in the war, but he started to open up after that.”

There has been lots of other memorable moments during Denise’s time with the agency, including a six-month secondment to the Human Resources department, and working through the Covid-19 pandemic.

During Covid, Denise worked long hours and late nights to ensure, when it came to recording deaths, everybody got the support they needed.

“I couldn’t leave someone not knowing what was happening and what to expect, they had just lost a loved one and didn’t know what to do or how to get the certificate,” she said.

“It’s supporting them through the process and helping with any questions, if working late hours meant we could get things done and help more people, then that’s what I would do.”

Denise has received lots of praise and positive feedback during her time with the MCA, adding it makes the harder times “worthwhile”.

She said: “It is a privilege to help people at such a difficult time in their lives, the fact is you have made a difference to the individual and that family.

“It can be challenging but it’s all about listening to them and understanding, and having an awareness of their emotional needs, as well as remaining professional. People react to death so differently so it’s adapting to what they need, being professional with a human touch.”

MCA Chief Executive Virginia McVea said:

“I met Denise early in my Chief Executive role and I was immediately taken by her passion and stories. With more than 40 years’ service under her belt she is an incredible asset to the MCA, which I am pleased is being recognised with a British Empire Medal.

“On behalf of the agency I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Denise for her ongoing hard work and commitment. It’s people like Denise who make this such a special place to work.”