Hudgell Solicitors are thrilled to see our client Jo Hamilton awarded an OBE in today’s New Years’ honours – recognising her incredible efforts campaigning for justice on behalf of hundreds of wronged former sub-postmasters.
Jo has been at the forefront of the fight for justice following the Post Office Horizon scandal over the past two decades, and, alongside Alan Bates, has become something of an unofficial spokesperson for hundreds of others.
The Order of the British Empire (OBE) is given to people who have made significant contributions to their local community or gained national recognition and is the second highest British ranking honour.
Jo, who ran a Post Office in the village of South Warnborough, Hampshire, was prosecuted for a shortfall in accounts of £36,000 in 2006, having been misled and told she was the only person facing issues with the accounting system.
Like many others, she was repeatedly told to ‘put right’ shortfalls in accounts, leading to her remortgaging her home, and borrowing from friends to cover the amount which was alleged to have gone missing.
Today, she vowed to continue fighting for justice for all affected by the scandal. Jo Hamilton said,
It is an unbelievable honour to accept this OBE for Services to Justice. I accept it on behalf of all sub-postmasters, and everyone affected by the Post Office scandal.
The fight is far from over so I will use this honour to continue highlighting the injustice so many have suffered, and we will not stop until everyone receives full and fair financial restitution.
‘Fully deserving’ of honour
Solicitor Neil Hudgell says the award is ‘fully deserving’ for somebody who has ‘fought for every single person affected’ by the scandal.
First and foremost, Jo is a wonderfully kind and caring person who, when a sub-postmaster herself, was loved and respected by her community – a community which turned out in force to support her when she was wrongfully prosecuted by the Post Office all those years ago.
Over the past two decades, Jo has continually campaigned for the truth and justice, not just for herself, but for every single person affected by what happened. That has taken incredible levels of courage, strength of character and resilience against a wall of defiance and denial.
Jo was there at the first meeting of sub-postmasters in Fenny Compton back in 2009, where a collective strength to challenge what had happened to so many people was garnered.
She has been there at historic court cases including the 2019 High Court judgment on Horizon’s failings to the landmark overturning of convictions in 2021, where her own name was rightfully cleared.
Most importantly, she has always been there for others. For Jo, it has never been just about the injustice to her, but to all.
She has attended court hearings to support others and has stepped forward to speak on behalf of so many others who have simply found it too difficult, in the media, in courtrooms and at the Public Inquiry.
She has been a powerful and persistent voice for sub-postmasters, and without her influence and impact, alongside people like Alan Bates and many others, we would not be where we are today, with the scandal having been exposed and subject to such scrutiny.
We have been immensely proud to represent Jo over the past five years, and are thrilled to see her given this recognition. She is fully deserving of this honour.
