Alumna receives Order of the Rising Sun honour for ‘strengthening friendship’ between Japan and UK

A teacher who brought together the descendants of prisoners of war to help foster relations between Japan and the UK has been honoured with a prestigious award.

Mary-Grace Browning MBE, a Japanese teacher at Bury’s St Edmunds County Upper School, founded Club Gonenkai at the school in 1970 to organise exchange visits with students in Japan.

Browning (NC 1963), pictured, also became instrumental as a volunteer coordinator of Pacific Venture, an exchange programme which sends grandchildren of former British PoWs to Japan in order to build friendships with the Japanese.

Thousands of people from all over Britain and Japan have been involved in the special project and Mrs Browning’s work has now led to her having the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, bestowed upon her by the Japanese Government in recognition of her remarkable contribution.

In 1999 Browning was awarded the Foreign Minister’s Commendation for her achievements on promoting mutual understanding between the UK and Japan. And in 2006 she was made an MBE for her contribution to UK-Japan relations.

A Japanese Government spokesperson said: “The Government of Japan recognises the significant contribution that Mrs Browning has made throughout her career to Japan-UK relations, and she therefore greatly deserves to be honoured with this Decoration.”

Mary-Grace Browning is also an active member The Roll Committee, a group of elected volunteers who meet to organise activities to keep members in touch with one another and with College.