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A raft of impressive figures from across the county are being recognised for their achievements in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours list.
Among those receiving an honour are...
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Helen James - for services to higher education
Professor Helen James, deputy vice-chancellor at Canterbury Christ Church University, has been recognised in particular, for championing women and diverse students into science and engineering, as well as helping those from disadvantaged backgrounds to access Higher Education, both regionally and nationally.
She has led the seven-year development of the recently opened £65 million STEM building on the university's Canterbury campus.
Professor Helen James said: “I am absolutely thrilled to receive this honour. Thank you everyone, north and south, England and Wales, industry, further and higher education who has been part of my journey.
"My passion for engineering, learning and widening participation started when I was 16 and I began my apprenticeship as a mechanical engineer in Vickers Shipbuilding, Barrow-in Furness.
“Education genuinely transforms lives. It has been a dream come true to be able to lead the vision for the development of an inclusive STEM ecosystem for Kent and Medway."
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Olga Johnson - for services to charity
Olga Johnson has a lengthy track record of involvement in the charitable sector, and for more than 30 years she successfully managed the executive search and selection of hundreds of senior executives and trustees.
In 2012 she founded the Nourish Community Foodbank in Tunbridge Wells, which now supports more than 7,000 people in the community every year.
The 75-year-old says she "jumped up and down with excitement" when she learnt she was to receive the honour.
"I'm absolutely over the moon,"she said. "To receive such an important honour for doing something that we really enjoy and is so worthwhile is just amazing.
"People think of Tunbridge Wells as being very wealthy, but there is also poverty. There are some amazing people and we have got a really great team behind us."
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Adam Mapani - for services to ophthalmology
Adam Mapani started his career as a student nurse at Moorfields, the specialist eye hospital in London, and worked his way up the ladder to become lead nurse consultant giving presentations worldwide.
The 42-year-old father-of-two, from Hempstead, has led the way in pioneering opthalmic treatment, including the nurse-led intra-vitreal injection service, administering medicine directly to the eye, the first in the UK.
He and his team provide external training programmes across the country and, to date, have trained 1,200 professionals.
In 2019 he was named in the top 100 most influential opthalmology Power List, the first nurse to achieve this. In the same year he received a Gold Lifetime Achievement Award by the Chief Nursing Officer for England.
Mr Mapani said: "I am honoured and humbled, especially as there are so many capable people working in my field."
He plans a family celebration with wife Rutenda and daughters Shanna, nine, and Naila, seven.
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Jonathan Peel - for services to Higher Education
Jonathan Peel was a trumpeter doing jazz gigs across the country, but decided on a career change when synthesiser music became fashionable and his talents were not so much in demand.
Thirty years ago Mr Peel joined Trinity Laban, a music and dance conservatoire which merged with London's Trinity School of Music, as a payroll clerk.
Now director of strategy and business operations, he receives the honour for services to higher education.
The 57-year-old father-of-one, from Rainham, is also founder of Generous Records, a not-for-profit company set up to generate donations to charity through the sale of original recorded music.
The songwriter also produced an album, Let the Music Give, featuring 11 of his songs and showcasing up-and-coming new singers and musicians.
Since the merger, he has led several major projects including the £3million transformation of the Blackheath Halls concert venue, a major community arts centre in south east London.
Mr Peel was "shocked" when he was told about the award.
He said: "I couldn't believe it. There have been so many scams during the pandemic and I thought this was one of them."
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Steve Craddock - for services to charity and the community
Former Royal Engineer Steve Craddock has raised a phenomenal £500,000 for Help for Heroes over the past 11 years. This is the largest amount raised by an individual for the charity, which as a serviceman who has suffered mental health issues, is close to his heart.
Mr Craddock, 63, who lives on St Mary's Island, Chatham, has embarked on a gruelling range of cycling challenges all over the world to raise money and raise awareness of PTSD.
The former sergeant joined the Army at the age of 17 and served multiple tours of Northern Ireand during the conflict, patrolling some of the most dangerous areas of the country.
To date, he has organised and taken part in more than 50 cycle-based events and he cycles thousands of miles every year.
Last August he went on a 420-mile ride to the National Memorial Arboretum Staffordshire, raising money for the charity.
The dad-of one said: "It's brilliant. I am very proud and I love it.
"I have only done this for other people, it's not about me.
"I have done this to make a difference and I think I have done that."
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Tricia Bernal - for services to the prevention of stalking
Tricia Bernal's daughter, Clare, was murdered by her ex-boyfriend several years ago and since she experienced this tragedy she has dedicated herself to highlighting the devastating effects of stalking.
She co-founded Protection Against Stalking, a national charity which works within communities to raise public awareness about stalking, and support victims of stalking through providing specialist support services.
As a campaigner, the Tunbridge Wells resident supported the Sun newspaper’s ‘Stop A Stalker’ campaign in 2018, calling for Stalking Protection Orders to allow the police to take action more quickly.
“I have to say when I first heard it, it was on an email, and I thought this is surreal, spam or something like that," Mrs Bernal said. “Then I burst into tears - ‘oh my gosh oh my gosh’ I thought.
“It is quite exciting, but I’d like to dedicate it to Clare really, my beautiful girl Clare and other victims of stalking who have lost their lives.
“Overwhelmed is the way I feel, but there’s a lot of unsung heroes out there who have not been nominated.
“I want to pay tribute to them, the amazing volunteers we have in Protection Against Stalking, how they work tirelessly and their commitment.
"We’ve got two dual CEOs, and without them we wouldn’t be the strong charity that we are, offering services to victims in Kent at the moment.”
British Empire Medal (BEM)
Dawn Stanford - for services to the community
Dawn Stanford is now operations director of the Nourish Community Foodbank in Tunbridge Wells, where she first started volunteering in 2013.
Prior to the pandemic, the charity was delivering much-needed food to around 100 people and their families in the town each week. But once lockdown started that number doubled.
With many of her regular volunteers unable to continue working because they needed to shield, she used her enthusiasm to supplement the existing volunteers with other groups from the community.
"I'm still a bit shell-shocked," the 48-year-old said of the news of the honour.
"I'm absolutely honoured and humbled, until I see it in writing I won't believe it. There are so many people I work with, so many people who do such amazing things, I've got such a great team behind me."
Ms Stanford reflected on the experience of the pandemic, and explained what would remain in her memory in the years ahead.
"We were there for every crisis before the pandemic, and we will be there for every crisis in the future," she said. "I don't want anyone to feel they don't have anyone to turn to.
"I have been asked what I will take away from the last year, and it's not the hard bits that have stuck out for me.
"I will remember it for the unbelievable acts of kindness and the fact the community stepped up and opened its arms to look after everybody."
British Empire Medal (BEM)
Danny Hawkins - for services to the railway
Network Rail station manager Danny Hawkins, 39, from Gravesend, is committed to teaching schoolchildren the importance of keeping safe near the railway
Motivated by the tragic death of a young person on the tracks in his area, he has worked with schools and the British Transport Police to put together a programme to educate pupils.
He has arranged visits for eight local schools to stations, with about 200 children visiting.
His excellent relationship with local schools continues and last year, he invited three of them to visit the stations to sing around the Christmas trees. This was such a success that one of the schools named all their classes after their local stations.
This work is in addition to his normal duties and he speaks of his dedication to improving both railway safety and the relationship between the railway and communities. He worked with The Gr@nd in Gravesend, a healthy living organisation, to put together a health and wellbeing award scheme for the stations.
He arranged for healthy living machines to be brought in and created a reflection room for people to be able to pray or have time for themselves.
World Mental Health Day was marked in the stations with lots of different events including a children’s choir from The Gr@nd, local fitness groups coming in and holding taster sessions and an NHS day which youngsters were invited to.
Because of his work on this, Network Rail was named a local preferred employer and presented with an award by Dartford's mayor.
The awards panel noted he always put his team’s wellbeing first, and voluntarily created and developed a management development course, helping them realise their potential and giving them key skills for their professional development.
The course includes interview preparation and CV writing skills and has been such a success it is now being rolled out to include local train operating companies.
British Emprie Medal (BEM)
Chloe Newman - for services to the manufacturing of PPE in Tenterden during Covid
Tenterden resident Chloe Newman, 37, sprang into action when Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) became scarce during the first lockdown last year.
The teacher began a group called ‘PPE Team Tenterden’, which quickly became a hub for the large group of volunteers in her home town.
She initially started making scrubs bags from pillowcases, putting out an appeal for pillow cases and other bed linen, before amassing the Team to produce items of PPE, including masks, headbands, earsavers, scrubs caps and full sets of scrubs.
She also altered patterns for children’s masks that would make them more comfortable to wear, and wrote up how-to guides for new sewers.
Not only did Ms Newman organise the purchasing of additional material for members, she also ran fundraising events for extra supplies and sorted out the nationwide delivery of the produced PPE.
To date, the group has made more than 23,000 items, which have been dispatched all over the country to many NHS and private hospitals, including to NHS Nightingale Hospitals, as well as GP surgeries and care homes.
The mother-of-four said: “It came as a complete shock when I was notified I would be receiving such a prestigious award and cannot thank each and every person who nominated me enough.
“However, this award would never have been possible without each and every member of ‘PPE Team Tenterden’ and the local community with their amazing efforts in helping drive it forward.
“Every single member of the team deserves the BEM, I simply brought them together.”
Queen's Ambulance Service Medal
Dr Fionna Moore
The medical director for the South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) has been given a Queen's Ambulance Service Medal.
Dr Fionna Moore is one of the UK's longest serving emergency medicine consultants having worked for the ambulance service for more than 20 years.
She is one of just six people to receive the medal today.
Fionna said: “I am humbled and delighted to be named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours and to be receiving the Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal. "I will accept it with pride and will be representing each and every member of staff within the ambulance service who work tirelessly every day to serve their communities and respond to the needs of our patients.”
Dr Moore has also served as SECAmb’s chief executive and was previously medical director and chief executive at London Ambulance Service.
Her work at Secamb to raise clinical standards which included work on medicines governance was hailed by the Care Quality Commission as outstanding.
She has also been instrumental in developing specialist paramedic roles in critical care and is a listed author in more than 30 academic studies. SECAmb Chief Executive Officer Philip Astle said: “I am really pleased that Fionna’s dedication and career has been marked with her receiving such a prestigious honour.
"We have faced huge challenges in recent months and Fionna’s leadership and support has been vital. Her focus on patient care remains unstinting.
"She is happy to help any member of staff with any query at any time and as a Trust we feel very privileged and proud to have Fionna as our Medical Director.”
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
William Stephen Ferris OBE DL - for services to heritage
Bill Ferris OBE DL, recently retired chief executive of Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, has been awarded a CBE for services to heritage.
Mr Ferris held the position of chief executive for almost 20 years before retiring in August 2020, during which time he led the transformation of the former Naval Dockyard through its pioneering strategy of “preservation through reuse.”
He said: “I am incredibly honoured to receive this award but it is in recognition of the hard work and dedication of the brilliant team at Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust that I had the privilege to lead for nearly twenty years.
"The award is for services to heritage, which reflects the incredible achievement of the people involved with this great place, along with the spirit of partnership and mutual support across the sector.
"The Historic Dockyard Chatham has become a leader in the field of heritage led regeneration and education within a superbly restored heritage environment. To me, CBE can only stand for one thing - Chatham’s Brilliant Effort."
British Empire Medal (BEM)
Jon Wilson - for services to the community in Folkestone district during Covid-19
Last March, Folkestone and Hythe District Council moved quickly to set-up three Community Hubs across the district to support residents who had been asked to self-isolate at home because of the Covid-19 outbreak.
As the Chief Executive Officer of Romney Marsh Day Centre, New Romney, Jon Wilson without any hesitation, agreed to take on the challenge for the Marsh.
He organised for many of the nearby voluntary organisations and the district council to meet to plan on the Covid-19 action for the area.
He worked tirelessly with his team to set-up the Hub within a week with dedicated telephone lines following the Government guidelines.
He has developed a close relationship with Caring Altogether on Romney Marsh (CARM) who supported with befriending calls and GP welfare calls as well as Action with Rural Communities in Kent.
As a result, in the first 12 weeks of operation, the Hub dealt with almost 6,000 incoming and outgoing calls, 700 GP Welfare calls, cooked and delivered 4,500 hot meals, as well as prescription collections, and other requests ranging from hearing aid battery support, emergency plumbing solutions, utilities key top-ups, etc.
Mr Wilson said: "It is an honour to be recognised for my work for this special charity that I feel privileged to be part of, but this award is really for every member of the Hub’s team and our volunteers, for everyone who has worked tirelessly to support the needs of our community in these challenging times."
Karen Leader is the Hub’s Chair of Trustees: "Jon can be immensely proud of how he has led the team throughout the pandemic.
"He has made a real difference to the lives of so many, and the whole community of the Romney Marsh has benefited greatly from his dedication to the cause. Jon has led with tenacity and enthusiasm, and his collaborative approach has resulted in many successful partnerships, which will only benefit the community long-term.
"We are lucky to have Jon – with him at the helm, our future is bright."
British Empire Medal (BEM)
Adam McEvoy - for services to disabled and young people through sport
Adam McEvoy from Maidstone is a national development manager for the Wheelchair Football Association (WFA) and is involved in the strategic planning of the sport, both nationally and internationally.
He has established four new clubs across the south east of England, including one in Sevenoaks which was founded in 2012 with five players.
Since then he has transformed it, now supporting and coaching 18 players ranging from eight to 30 years old.
Mr McEvoy said: "I was taken aback by it when I initially received an email. I thought it was spam to begin with.
"It was only on closer inspection that I came to the realisation that the news and award was genuine.
"I feel very grateful and somewhat undeserving - there are numerous people who do a great deal in their respective communities who are also befitting of such an award. I feel very lucky and proud to have been nominated."
Other medals were awarded to:
ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Andrew Martin Duffell OBE. Head of Dealing Desk, UK Debt Management Office. For services to Public Finance. (Aylesford, Kent)
Martin William Jones. Chief Executive, Parole Board for England and Wales. For services to Victims, Diversity and Transparency within the Parole Process. (Maidstone, Kent)
Dr Helen Samantha Parrett OBE. Chief Executive Officer and Executive Principal, London South East Education Group. For services to Education. (Golden Green, Kent)
Michael Graham Rowe. Director, Marine and Fisheries, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. For services to the EU Exit and International Trade. (Longfield, Kent)
Kresse Ann-Marie Wesling MBE. Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Elvis & Kresse Ltd. For services to Sustainable Business. (Faversham, Kent)
Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
James Arthur Coppin. Executive Director, UK Government Investments. For services to the Vaccine Taskforce. (Biddenden, Kent)
David Forbes-Nixon. Co-founder, Stepping Stones Special School at Undershaw, Hindhead, Surrey. For services to Children and Adults with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. (Penshurt, Kent)
Martin Philip Jones. Lately Deputy Director and Negotiations Adviser, EU Transition Division, Department for Transport. For public service. (Tonbridge, Kent)
Dr Daniel Frederick McGonigle. Systems Research Lead, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. For services to Science and Operations in the Response to Covid-19. (Sevenoaks, Kent)
Michael Stephen Nankivell. Chair, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Board, Fgas Implementation Group. For services to the UK Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Industry. (Maidstone, Kent
Victoria Anne Rayner. Chief Executive Officer, National Care Forum. For services to Social Care. (Tunbridge Wells, Kent)
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Richard Douglas Cheesley. Tipstaff of the High Court, HM Courts and Tribunals Service. For services to the High Court of England and Wales. (Maidstone, Kent)
Lorraine Daniels. Health and Wellbeing Adviser, HM Treasury. For public service. (West Malling, Kent)
Simon Gadd. Founder and Director, Trinity Fencing CIC. For services to Social Mobility. (Sittingbourne, Kent)
Giles David Hilton. Chairman and Commercial Manager, Canterbury Rugby Football Club. For services to Rugby Union Football in Kent. (Faversham, Kent)
John Edward Keeler. Chair of Governors, Headcorn Primary School and Governor, Park Way Primary School, Kent. For services to Education. (Ashford, Kent)
Gillian Marie Jeanne Shepherd-Coates. Chief Executive Officer, Age UK Sevenoaks and Tonbridge. For services to charity and Reducing Social Isolation and Loneliness for Older People. (Kemsing, Kent)
Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)
Casey Abbott. Store Manager, Iceland Foods. For services to Retail. (Ramsgate, Kent)
Victoria Baldock. Assistant Headteacher, George Carey Church of England Primary School, London Borough of Barking. For services to Education. (Dartford, Kent)
Tracy Alison Carr. Chair, Talk It Out In Deal. For services to Mental Health Funding and the community in Deal, Kent. (Deal, Kent)
Mavis Nye. Chief Executive, The Mavis Nye Foundation. For services to People with Mesothelioma. (Whitstable, Kent)
ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER
THE ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER
MVO
Joanne Mary Holmes. Deputy Clerk to the Kent Lieutenancy. (Kent)
