Honours for Team GB and COVID-19 heroes
Dean, Chippington and community volunteers recognised in New Year’s list
Two of Maidenhead’s Team GB heroes have been recognised in the New Year’s Honours list, which celebrates the achievements and service of ‘extraordinary people’ across the UK.
Released on Friday, the annual list saw Olympic double gold medal-winning swimmer Tom Dean awarded an MBE for services to swimming.
Fellow athlete Jeanette Chippington, who has represented Great Britain at seven Paralympics as both a swimmer and paracanoeist, was given an OBE for services to canoeing after claiming bronze in Tokyo last year.
Elsewhere, Maidenhead Bridge Rotary Club’s Lisa Hunter has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the community in the town during COVID-19.
In South Bucks, Marlow’s Hamaad Karim – a student mentor – was given the same accolade for voluntary services to students and the wider community in the pandemic.
Adam Prince, formerly of Burnham but now living in Staffordshire, features on the list of new BEM recipients for his services to the community in the village.
Rosemary O’Hagan also received a BEM for services to the community in Bourne End and Wooburn during coronavirus.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “These recipients have inspired and entertained us and given so much to their communities in the UK or in many cases around the world. “The honours are an opportunity for us to thank them, as a country, for their dedication and outstanding contribution.”
Sir Hugh Robertson, chairman of the British Olympic Association, also paid tribute to the athletes on the list following a successful Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“The Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games were the most testing ever for everyone involved but most particularly the athletes,” he said. “They lit up the British summer with a series of outstanding performances and fully deserve the recognition that they have received in this year’s list. They, genuinely, did the country proud.”
COVID-19 community volunteers and Maidenhead’s Team GB heroes have been recognised in the New Year's Honours, announced at the end of December. We‘ve taken a closer look at some of the recipients from our area and spoke to some of them about the work that they do and what it means to be recognised.