People in the South West recognised in Queen's New Year Honours

People across the South West have been recognised in the Queen's New Year Honours list.

The list marks the achievement and service of extraordinary people across the UK.

Here's a round-up of some of the amazing people who have been awarded an MBE by the Queen.

Bristol

39-year-old Rebecca Scott from the University of Bristol has been recognised for her services to disadvantaged communities.

She’s helped establish the BAME network at the university, where she’s also developed and delivered an apprenticeship programme to help connect underrepresented groups in the university with work experience opportunities.

Among her other impressive contributions, Rebecca is also the voluntary director of Autism independence, helping over 100 families access support - and also provides free financial support to micro-businesses who can’t afford an accountant.

Bath and Somerset

18-year-old Matthew Richards has been honoured for his services to swimming.

The Olympic gold medalist was part of the British team to with the 4 x 200m men’s freestyle at Tokyo 2020.

He trained at the British Swimming National Training Centre in Bath and played a pivotal role which saw history made in the pool that day.

It was the first time since 1908 that a British men’s squad had won that title and were 0.03 seconds off breaking the world record.

Gloucestershire

35-year-old Robert Burrows from Stonehouse –has been recognised for his work at building society Nationwide. It included making it easier for people to donate to charities during the pandemic.

Representing the sporting world is 27-year-old Piers Gilliver from the Forest of Dean. He was on the British Paralympic fencing team, winning a gold medal at Tokyo 2020.

46-year-old Stephen Paul Hams from Lechlade on Thames has been honoured for his impressive services to nursing, which includes leading the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccination programme in Gloucestershire.

Devon

65-year-old Janet Lefley from Lifton is the community manager at a school in Hampshire who has been recognised for her services to education.

26-year-old Reece Dunn, from Plymouth, is a Paralympic swimmer who became a five-time gold medalist at his Tokyo 2020 debut.

Rhoda Allison, who is 54 and from Torbay, is the associate director or nursing and professional practice at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust. She’s been honoured for her services to physiotherapy.

Wiltshire

Representing Wiltshire in the New Year Honours in 30-year-old Olympic athlete Kate French from Chapmanslade.

She won a gold in the modern pentathlon for team GB at Tokyo 2020.

Not only is she the first British competitor to win the event in the last 2 decades, she also broke the record for the overall points won in the event.

She’s also won many medals in other World championships since 2010.

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