NEW YEAR’S HONOURS MEET THE BRISTOL PEOPLE CELEBRATED IN THE 2021 LIST
Meet the Bristol people named in the 2021 New Year’s Honours. Estel Farell-Roig reports
ANUMBER of Bristol people have been named in the 2021 New Year’s Honours. They include two consultants at Bristol hospitals who have been recognised for their work during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as an art producer who has been working with deprived communities and a kickboxing world champion.
Here is the full list of Bristol people named in the 2021 New Year’s Honours:
Ema Swingwood OBE
The respiratory physiotherapist has been awarded the honour for her services to physiotherapy.
Mrs Swingwood, right, has been a respiratory physiotherapist at the Bristol Royal Infirmary for nine years and is also the respiratory pathway lead at UHBW, the physiotherapy lead at NHS Nightingale Bristol and chair of the ACPRC (The Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Respiratory Care).
The 39-year-old delayed the start of an NIHR clinical doctoral research fellowship PhD at the start of the pandemic to carry on working in a clinical support role.
She has also worked with Public Health England to develop guidelines and recommendations for physiotherapist interventions during Covid-19.
Mrs Swingwood, who lives in Gwent in Wales and started her PhD at the University of the West of England (UWE) in September, said: “I couldn’t believe it when I was notified about the OBE.
“Although this is a personal award, I see it as being collaborative and a team effort. I couldn’t have achieved any of this without the support and efforts of so many wonderful colleagues.”
Michael Kevin Handel Beard OBE
The Ministry of Defence employee has been awarded an OBE for his services to defence.
The 54-year-old has worked for the Ministry of Defence in various roles since 1983 and has been with defence equipment and support since its inception in 2007, as well as working for bodies including the Defence Procurement Agency.
Mr Beard, who lives in Emersons Green, is now a deputy head on the Future Maritime Support Programme (FMSP).
This year, he led a commercial team supporting DE&S’ corporate operations, which included support for both DE&S and the cross-government response to the Covid-19 effort.
He said: “I was genuinely shocked to find out I had been put forward for an OBE, but I am delighted to be honoured.
“It’s a great feeling knowing the way DE&S stood up during what was a very challenging year has been recognised.
“Everything we did in 2020 was a real team effort. This is testament to the hard work, dedication and expertise of the teams I have been fortunate enough to lead, and be a part of.”
Sarah Heide Marchant OBE
The area business manager for the Crown Prosecution Service has been awarded an OBE for her services to law and order.
Ms Marchant, above, joined the CPS in 2002 and became area business manager for the South West in 2011.
She is also the national CPS Area Business Manager lead for wellbeing, ensuring that wellbeing issues are at the forefront of business delivery and improvement and has worked across the organisation at a national level to continuously identify ways to improve support for staff health and wellbeing.
As ABM, Sarah played a lead role in CPS South West’s response to COVID-19, which enabled core CPS business to be maintained while ensuring the safety of staff and service users.
She added: “I am delighted and honoured to have been nominated for this award.
“This year has been a reminder of how important it is for every organisation to look out for the wellbeing of its employees and I am proud of what we have achieved within CPS, both in the South West and nationally.”
Oliver Dearden OBE
A volunteer at the Bristol Aero Collection Trust, Mr Dearden – from Westbury-on-Trym – has received the honour for his services to cultural heritage in the aviation industry.
Zoe Alison Taylor MBE
The CEO of Bristol-based Sparkol has received the honour for her services to exports.
Ms Taylor, above, joined Sparkol, makers of leading whiteboard animation software VideoScribe, in 2014 and became its owner in 2018.
Sparkol now exports to more than 180 countries and the firm employs 35 people in Bristol.
The 50-year-old said that, when she received the call earlier this month, she was absolutely over the moon but she then started fluctuating between this and having impostor syndrome.
Describing it as wonderful, Ms Taylor – who lives in Wraxall, North Somerset – said she was really pleased.
“As a small business to sell to more than 180 countries, it is something special to have that much reach across the globe,” she continued. “We created the product with the idea that it could be used by anyone everywhere.
“I feel that, all my success, I could not have achieved it without my team. We have worked so hard to achieve this.”
Ms Taylor also encouraged other people in business to look at the export opportunities available to them, adding it is not as difficult as it seems.
Margaret Ann Simmons-Bird MBE
The Bristol resident was head of education improvement from September 2014 to October 2016 and was then director of education transformation for Bath and North East Somerset Council from November 2016 until December 2019, when she retired.
She has received the honour for her services to education.
Keith Henry Francis Aston MBE
He has received an MBE for his services to the community in Bristol.
Superintendent Andrew Philip Bennett QPM
The Avon and Somerset Police superintendent has been awarded a Queen’s Police Medal.
Supt Bennett is recognised for his work tackling hate crime and bringing policing and communities closer.
He began his policing career as a special constable in Avon and Somerset in 1988 and then joined the Metropolitan Police in 1990, before returning to Avon and Somerset Police in 2002 following the birth of his second son.
Much of his 30 years in policing has been spent in neighbourhood roles working with the community, including a fondly-remembered period as the neighbourhood inspector for the area including Ashley and St Paul’s.
His current role includes having responsibility for neighbourhood officers across Bristol and working with partners to keep the most vulnerable in the city safe.
The dad-of-three is also Avon and Somerset’s hate crime lead, and is dedicated to the constabulary’s goal of making organisation more diverse and inclusive.
Supt Bennett – who was born and grew up in Bristol – said: “I am humbled to receive this award, particularly at a time when so many are working tirelessly to help others during the pandemic.
“I also want to recognise those members of the community who have been prepared to take a step forward, to talk to us and help to break down barriers so we can move towards our goal of truly representing the diverse citizens of Bristol.”
Daniel Edward Gallimore BEM
The founder of charity Have Stick Will Travel has been awarded the BEM for his services to people with visual impairments in Bristol.
The 46-year-old – who lost his sight at the age of 21 after being assaulted – raises money for people with visual impairments, who can then apply for funds to purchase equipment that will improve their lives.
This could be anything from computer software to magnifiers.
Mr Gallimore, from Henleaze, said: “I was shocked and honoured to be recognised in this way. It is very nice.
“I am still shocked about it now and, until I actually receive it in the New Year, it will not sink in.”
Peter William Elmont BEM
The chair of the Weston-superMare fundraising branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution has received the honour for his charitable services to maritime safety.