King's Birthday Honours recognises achievements in South West
The List has been released, with 70 people from our region included
A number of people from the South West have been recognised as part of the King's Birthday Honours List, released on Friday night (14th June).
The overall list includes some famous faces, like actress Imelda Staunton - who played the late Queen Elizabeth II in drama series The Crown, and Alan Bates - the subpostmaster who led the campaign to have criminal convictions overturned in the Post Office Horizon IT scandal.
7.4% of the recipients are from our region.
A steam engine restoration enthusiast, Peter Best from Tetbury, has been awarded a British Empire Medal.
Peter Best, who has been awarded the BEM for his services to steam and heritage railways, has bought and restored 11 trains with his own money.
The 69-year-old is also a former chairman of North Yorkshire Moors Railway and has been involved in the restoration of British canals, including the recent successful Lottery Fund application on behalf of the Cotswold Canals.
Mr Best, who lives in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, said he has loved trains ever since he was a child.
"I started off as a nipper as a trainspotter, with a few breaks along the way for girls and beer and university and other things," he told the PA news agency.
He bought his first train, a Garrett steam traction engine, in the 1980s.
Mr Best admitted that train restoration is an expensive hobby, with his last train, the Black 5 steam locomotive, costing around £600,000 to restore.
"I am definitely down on them all, but some of them are less bad than others," he said.
However, Mr Best said the financial loss was worth it, for the joy it gives other people.
"I hope the award is because I'm quite open about wanting other people to enjoy my engines and seeing them operate, and I make them available to people so they can see and enjoy them," he said.
Mr Best added: "I hope the honour is as much for all the volunteers looking after heritage railways, and my locomotives, as it is for me, who has been lucky enough to restore them and operate them."
Former Ucas chief executive Clare Marchant said she feels "hugely privileged" to be given a damehood in the King's Birthday Honours.
Dame Clare, who led the universities and colleges admissions service during the Covid-19 disruption, has been recognised for services to higher education.
Dame Clare, who is now vice-chancellor of the University of Gloucestershire, left Ucas in September last year after more than six years in charge.
During her leadership, the higher education admissions service introduced personalised digital tools, such as Clearing Plus and the Ucas Hub, to help young people considering their post-18 choices.
Dame Clare was at the helm in August 2020 when the fiasco around grading led to thousands of A-level students having their results downgraded from school estimates by an algorithm, before a U-turn was made.
On being awarded Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, she said: "I'm just in disbelief and hugely privileged.
"It's all about team at the end of the day, so there are a load of people to say thank you to when the time is right."
Dame Clare added: "It's just a huge honour. I gave my everything to Ucas for over six years and am really proud of what I've achieved there."
Meanwhile, in Wiltshire, an explorer has been made an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours for services to hot-air ballooning.
Alicia Hempleman-Adams, 34, from Wiltshire, hopes the recognition will inspire more people - particularly young women - to take up the sport.
The fashion consultant is the daughter of adventurer Sir David Hempleman-Adams, 67, who was made an OBE in the late Queen's birthday honours in 1998 for services to Arctic exploration.
In April this year, Ms Hempleman-Adams set three women's airship world records in Connecticut in the United States - 20 years after her father set the men's record in the same airship.
She said she "couldn't believe it" when she received a letter informing her that she would be made an MBE in this year's King's Birthday Honours.
Ms Hempleman-Adams, said: "I'm very excited. It's not quite sunk in yet, I don't think. It was a bit of a shock to be awarded it, it wasn't something I was expecting, so it is a big surprise.
"I received a letter in the post and it gave all the details. I got it out and read it and just couldn't believe it. It's not something you expect to get in your mail.
"I'm really looking forward to going. I've been a few times with my dad, who has received a few awards, so it'll be weird going myself, it'll be a bit surreal."
And finally, Mary and Charles Dobson, from Bristol, were each made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for charitable services to children and young adults living with disabilities and life-threatening illnesses.
Following an accident in which their son Julian lost two fingers, the couple founded the Charles and Mary Dobson Charitable Trust in 1988 through which they donated a percentage of their annual salaries to charitable causes.
The pair, now aged 81 and 80, were on holiday in Spain when they received a phone call from their cleaner, Sally, who had opened a letter from the Cabinet Office informing them they had been recognised in the King's Birthday Honours.
Mr Dobson, 80, said: "We were speechless - it was completely out of the blue.
Alan Bates has been knighted in recognition of his campaigning work highlighting the Post Office Horizon scandal.
Strictly's Amy Dowden has accepted being made an MBE for her services to Crohn's disease "on behalf" of all those who live with the inflammatory bowel disease.
Actress Imelda Staunton and fashion accessories designer Anya Hindmarch were made dames in the list
The highest award went to Gordon Brown who was made a Companion of Honour,
Artist Tracey Emin was made a Dame alongside Imelda Staunton. Dame Tracey, who is known for her autobiographical and confessional artwork, said: "Dame Tracey has a good ring to it. I'm very, very happy. Another brilliant surprise in my life."
Countdown's lexicographer Susie Dent was given an MBE, as was singer Rebecca Ferguson
Duran Duran singer Simon Le Bon said being made an MBE was "incredible" and "totally unexpected".
He added: "These last few years have been some of the most important in Duran Duran's career, and this is a bright but humbling highlight as our journey continues."
Founding member of M People, as well as a successful solo artist, Heather Small has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King's Birthday Honours for her voluntary and charitable services.
Soap star Shobna Gulati has become a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the cultural industries.
Cycling sprint star Mark Cavendish, 39, who is on the overseas list under his Isle of Man address, said he was "truly humbled" to be knighted.