A WEDDING venue owner has spoken of her gratitude after she was named in the New Year's honours list for services to heritage and charity.
Jocelyn Finnigan, who owns and manages the historic Homme House, in Herefordshire, has been made an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) and says she is "enormously grateful."
This year’s New Year Honours list includes 1,157 recipients, celebrating the contributions of well‑known figures, public servants and community champions.
Mrs Finnigan has lived in Much Marcle since 1985. She became part‑owner of Homme House in 2000 and moved there with her husband John in 2001. She has been the full owner of the estate since 2007 and has lived at Homme House ever since.
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Over more than 25 years as custodian, during this time, she has overseen the restoration of its Grade I, II* and II listed buildings, as well as its surrounding gardens, including the walled garden and the Grade I listed 17th‑century former banqueting house.
She opened Homme House as an events venue in 2004 to help fund ongoing restoration work.
Since then, the estate has supported both local and national charitable causes through a wide range of fundraising events over the past two decades.
Mrs Finnigan also volunteers for St Michael’s Hospice two mornings a week, describing the “amazing care and how looked after” her late husband was when he was there.
In 2024, she dedicated a full year of fundraising at Homme House to the hospice in his memory, raising more than £40,000 through events including a Bridge Day in March, the Roaring 20s Hommedinger Ball in June and a Christmas Hamper Prize Draw.
“None of the charitable activities would have been possible without the hard work of passionate and dedicated fundraising teams,” she said.
“It has given me great pleasure to share our home and to support our local community through doing so.”
To date, Homme House has hosted more than 630 weddings.
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