Honours All walks of life recognised in New Year awards
APIONEERING flying doctor, a brownie leader, a charity shop worker, a man who helped buy a fleet of £250million ships for the Navy, and a vicar are among the Gloucestershire people receiving awards in the Queen’s New Year Honours List 2021.
The New Year Honours list recognises the achievements and service of people across the UK, from all walks of life.
But this year it is designed to reflect the outstanding contribution of Covid heroes. like emergency medicine consultant Phil Cowburn who has been instrumental in saving lives during the crisis and awarded an MBE.
Not content with working on the front line dealing with critical in patients in hospital and with the Great Western Ambulance Service, the Stonehouse-based consultant also came up with the first scheme in England to safely transfer patients between hospital intensive care units so they can get the best care possible.
“It still feels a bit surreal but it’s starting to sink in,” said the 53-year-old who should be holidaying in Belgium rather than being at home in Gloucestershire.
“I had a bit of soul searching because it’s seemed such a personal thing but I am accepting it on behalf of all the team members who made it possible.”
Along with Professor Jonathan Benger, he helped found the GWAAC and and is currently a consultant at South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.
As well as working in hospital, he remains part of a team of flying medics who in 2019 alone treated 2,000 patients across Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire.
Professor Edward Peck from Dymock, near Newent, gets the highest ranking award, Commander of the Order of the British Empire, but it’s not for work in his home county.
The university Vice-chancellor has been honoured for a long academic career linked to public service and leading Nottingham Trent University to becoming an award-winning institution.
During a previous job at King’s College, London the Deputy Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire was a leading figure in the closure of UK psychiatric asylums and is a trustee of the Gloucestershire-based Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
An OBE has been awarded to Ministry of Defence manager Daniel Rowley Bishop from Dursley.
He has been honoured for his services to defence procurement on the Type 31 frigate programme which remains on course despite the Covid-19 crisis.
Also collecting an MBE are Kim Lewington for the charity development programme, Fly2help, and Tewkesbury based Carol Tiley, who is the South West area chairman of the Sea Cadets.
Felicity Waggett has been awarded an MBE for services to young people and to the community in Gloucestershire.
After running the Eastcombe brownie group for over 30 years, she is still a member of the senior guides in Stroud, the Trefoil Guild.
After giving up the Brownie group ten years ago she has found plenty to do helping other organisations in the village and insists she hasn’t done anything exceptional.
“I still cannot believe it,” said the 82-year-old.
“I thought these awards were for people who had done extraordinary things, not somebody like me.
“It’s a real honour but I’m still reeling from the shock of it because I’m just an ordinary person who keeps their head down and gets on with things.”
Cancer Research UK volunteer Patricia Mcculloch, from Cheltenham, has been awarded an British Empire Medal for services to the community after working in the Gloucester city centre charity shop for more than 30 years.
Care home manager Xyza Aura Macutay-malloch will also get a BEM for running Kingsley House, a residential nursing home, near Tetbury, during the pandemic which has hit care services hard.
Stephen Sharples’ contribution to the community in Stourbridge, Somerset, and Gloucestershire is also recognised with a BEM.
Tracy Wren, from Gloucester, has been honoured with a BEM for for reviving the Gloucestershire Constabulary’s cadet force and making it possible for people with learning difficulties to join.
Reverend Bernard Rumbold has been awarded a BEM for his work with young people through the RAF cadets and Childline.
The 77-year-old. retired wing commander is chaplain to both 1245 (Cirencester) and 878 (Highworth) Squadrons and regularly assists elsewhere.
The Childline supporter is “hugely effective” in providing advice and has been an inspiration to thousands of cadets and adult volunteers over his 64-year association with the Royal Air Force Air Cadets.