Western Morning News (Saturday)
Heroes are recognised in delayed honours list
TV COOKERY celebrity Mary Berry and Manchester United and England footballer Marcus Rashford are among the top names honoured today in a Covid-delayed Queen’s birthday honours list.
Awards in the Westcountry go to former Royal Marine turned Invictus Games athlete Mark Ormrod, who survived a bomb blast in Afghanistan and has been an inspiration to thousands and a major supporter of military veterans.
The list also includes many heroes of the coronavirus crisis.
TRIPLE amputee Mark Ormrod, who lost both legs and an arm while serving as a Royal Marine in Afghanistan has been awarded the MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours, published today.
He is among a number of Westcountry recipients of honours, which were delayed because of coronavirus, including Exeter University professor Roy Sambles, an experimental physicist, who is knighted and Devon and Somerset Chief Fire Officer Lee Howell, who receives the OBE for services to the fire and rescue service.
TV celebrity and cookery expert Mary Berry, who has strong links with South Devon and learned to bake at a bakery in Salcombe, is made a Dame.
And in a list dominated nationally by people who have made a difference to the battle against coronavirus, specialiast senior sister in intensive care Kate Tantan, of Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, receives the BEM.
Cornish tea pioneer Jonathon Jones of the Tregothnan Estate is awarded the OBE for services to international trade and commerce. He is a champion of global trade and building British businesses through international exports.
Mark Ormrod was badly injured when he stepped on an improvised explosive device in Helmand Province, Afghanistan on Christmas Eve 2007. He was rushed to hospital on board a helicopter, where military medics saved his life.
He woke up three days later in the UK in Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham. Both legs had been amputated above the knee and his right arm amputated above the elbow. He was the UK’s first triple amputee to survive the Afghanistan conflict and competed in Prince Harry’s Invictus Games
Today, Mark Ormrod is an internationally acclaimed motivational speaker, a peak performance coach, and the author of the award winning autobiography Man Down.
He is married with three children, and carries out many charitable fundraising activities. He has not used a wheelchair since June 9 2009. His MBE is for services to Royal Marines and veterans.
This year’s birthday honours list was postponed from June in order to include people, such as medical workers, fundraisers and volunteers, who have been instrumental in the Covid-19 effort.
It celebrates the selfless good deeds of big names as well as ordinary people during the pandemic, which saw delivery drivers drop off food and medicine to vulnerable people and health and care workers put themselves at risk to help their communities and beyond.
Among them is footballer Marcus Rashford, who has been made an MBE for ensuring children in need received meals across the summer during the pandemic.
His campaign forced the Government to make a U-turn over its free school meals provision and now he is being honoured for services to vulnerable children in the UK during Covid-19.
He said: “As a young black man from Wythenshawe, never did I think I would be accepting an MBE, never mind an MBE at the age of 22. This is a very special moment for myself and my family,
but particularly my mum who is the real deserving recipient of the honour.”
Body coach Joe Wicks is also being made an MBE for helping children keep active and mentally fit during lockdown with his online PE lessons.
Mr Wicks said: “My childhood and how I grew up, if you met me as a little boy you’d have thought ‘He’s not going to go anywhere, he’s not going to do anything great’.
“But I’ve turned it around and I really am proud I’ve become this person who’s helping people.”
Hot on the heels of Mr Wicks is Derrick Evans, more commonly known as Mr Motivator, who has been made an MBE after creating online home exercises during lockdown and hosting a week-long workout with Linda Lusardi to raise money for Age UK’s Emergency Coronavirus Appeal.
The television star said he initially thought he was being “scammed” when told of the honour, adding that it was “wonderful to be acknowledged in this way”.
He said: “If only my parents were really here with me now, they would be so chuffed, but I think in spirit they are actually hovering up there and they are saying ‘Boy, you done good’.”
Naturalist and TV presenter Sir David Attenborough, receives an upgrade to Knight Grand Cross in the diplomatic list for services to broadcasting and conservation.
Phil Redmond, the creator of Grange Hill, Brookside and Hollyoaks, has been knighted for services to broadcasting.