The New Year’s festivities may have ended but we look to celebrate some of our county’s highest achievers who have made it onto 2018’s New Year’s Honours list.
This year, the Queen has given a range of awards, including CBEs, OBEs and MBEs to 1,123 people for their hard work and service to the country. Here are some of the worthy winners in our area.
Tim Lovett
A former president of the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA), Tim Lovett, who lives in Claygate, has been awarded an MBE for his services to Beekeeping.
He was “delighted” and “surprised” when he found the rather “ordinary looking” letter last November informing him of his achievement. #
The 69-year-old, who has successfully campaigned against cuts to The National Bee’s Units team of inspectors and played a vital role in the government establishing a £10million research fund into bees back in 2009, said he was inspired by Sherlock Holmes, who in one story “was going to retire and keep bees in Sussex.”
Tim - who is married with two children Ferdinand and Holly, as well as three grandchildren - had kept his award a secret until New Year’s Day, having only told his wife Jennie.
He said: “We’ve had a couple of neighbours around for a drink, but we’ll have a bigger party, closer to the ceremony.”
Ben Tatham
Former councillor Ben Tatham, was very pleased to learn he had made it onto this year’s New Year’s honours list for his service to the Mole Valley community.
When asked how his family responded to his announcement, he said his grandchildren made a lot of jokes.
He added: “They were suggesting what MBE might stand and most of them are not repeatable.”
Vinodka Murria
Weybridge’s Vinodka Murria, who has lived in Surrey for over 50 years after moving from India, has been awarded an OBE for services to the UK digital economy and advancing women in the software sector.
A successful enterprenuer, Viv has made outstanding contributions to the tech world, including developing Advanced Computer Software before she sold it to Vista for £765 million in 2015.
She said “I feel quite humbled and very blessed, and greatful to all the wonderful people I have worked with who have been part of the journey.”
Viv, who is also a Patron for the Prince’s Trust, has championed women’s advancement, including establishing a PS Foundation in India to help disadvantaged young women in India and setting up academies.
Betty Johnson
Eight-nine-year-old Betty Johnson, who lives in New Malden, was awarded an British Empire Medal her decades of voluntary service to veterans.
She said she was shocked when she received a letter “out of the blue” informing her of the award.
Betty said: “I thought someone was playing a horrible joke and then I saw the official looking envelope. And then it only sunk. For no moment did I dream I had an award. I was most surprised.”
Betty, who still works as a visiting assistant at The Royal Star and Garter home in Surbiton, after volunteering all her adult life, said she was inspired to help after seeing her father injured after the First World War and her late husband struggle after suffering from a stroke.
She said: “That gave me my extra sympathy with war damage and my poor husband had massive stroke. All of the staff [at The Royal Star and Garter home] were wonderful to him and when he died, I did ask right away to start.”
She celebrates the award with her two sons, Paul, 56 and Andrew, 51.
Professor Andrew Shennan
Kew resident Professor Andrew Shennan, a consultant obstetrician at Guy’s and St Thomas’, has been made an OBE (Officer of the Order for the British Empire) for his work in maternity services.
He is recognised for his award-winning preterm surveillance clinic at the hospital, which has been emulated around the country.
The clinic focuses on screening for, treating, and preventing premature birth.
As a result of this approach, 90 per cent of high-risk women seen at the clinic have had a healthy baby at full-term, compared with a national average of 50 to 70 per cent of women.
Professor Shennan said: “I am delighted to receive this recognition, but am basking in the reflected glory from the efforts of many.
“I really enjoy working with my patients. Making a difference to them is the reason why we do this.”
“It’s also really satisfying having students, both undergraduate and PhD, because you’re able to nurture the next generation of researchers who will have an impact on the future population.
“Helping others to realise their potential is truly worthwhile.”
Dr Andrew Parmley
The principal of Harrodian School in Barnes and the Lord Mayor of London in 2016 to 2017 has been given a knighthood for his services to music, education and civic engagement.
Catherine Clarke
Cathy Clarke, the former headteacher at King’s Oak Primary School in New Malden has been given an OBE for services to education. Ms Clarke guided the school to its first ever ‘good’ Ofsted rating in 2014.
Cathy Warwick
Kingston Hospital NHS Trust’s non-executive director Cathy Warwick has received a Damehood for her services to midwifery.
Dame Cathy joined the trust’s board as non-executive director in October 2017 after retiring as chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives.
She is is one of a very small group of midwives to be awarded an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecology and she received a CBE in 2006 for services to healthcare.
Dame Cathy said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been awarded the title of Dame in the New Year’s Honours list. I think it reflects well on all the wonderful people and organisations I have worked in over the years; especially the Royal College of Midwives.
“I am so pleased to receive it as I begin my role as a Non-Executive Director at Kingston Hospital and work with another group of wonderful people.”
Eamonn Holmes
Weybridge resident and This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes has received and OBE for services to broadcasting. He said: “It’s like getting a gold star for your homework.
“2018 will be my 38th year as a broadcaster and I can’t think of a better way of marking that. It’s a wonderful accolade.”
Sue Whitham
The head of student services at St Mary’s University in Twickenham, Sue Whitham, has been awarded a British Empire Medal for services to higher education.
Sue has been at St Mary’s for more than 20 years, supporting students and helping them and their families in times of difficulty, tragedy and adversity.
She said: “I am honoured and humbled to receive this award. My passion for working with students is as strong now as it was when I began my career at St Mary’s almost 24 years ago.
“I have had the privilege to get to know thousands of students, many of whom I have maintained contact with and their families which have developed into lasting friendships.”
St Mary’s Vice Chancellor Prof Francis Campbell said: “Sue has made, and continues to make a major contribution to the lives of students at St Mary’s.
“Every student finds their own path through higher education, with some needing additional support when they find themselves in difficulty whether through financial hardship, illness, bereavement or through their additional educational requirement.
“Sue, and the team she leads, regularly go beyond the call of duty to ensure that no student who needs help is left behind. I am delighted that Sue has received this national recognition of the vital work she does and the lives she has transformed.”
Pauline Shaw
Pauline Shaw, the director of care at the Royal Star and Garter Homes – which includes a home in Surbiton – has received an OBE in recognition for her services to veterans.
Pauline has been a nurse since 1982 and has held her current position since 2002.
Under Pauline’s leadership, the two homes have won awards for dementia care. She is proactive in sharing her knowledge and learning, working on a NICE committee to develop dementia care guidelines and as a trustee with The Royal Naval Benevolent Trust.
Pauline said: “I am deeply honoured to receive an OBE. I’m still in shock but over the moon! There are so many people who have supported me over the years and to whom I owe a huge debt of gratitude, not least the wonderful residents, my friends and colleagues at The Royal Star & Garter Homes and my family. I hope that having these important letters after my name will help to reinforce my messages about improving care for older people.”
John Woolf
Esher resident John Woolf, the co-founder of the Charities Leadership Programme has received and OBE for services to the charitable sector in the UK and abroad.
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