King's Birthday Honours recognises achievements in Wiltshire

The List includes 15 people from our county

Published 14th Jun 2024

A number of people in Wiltshire 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 the South West, with 15 of them hailing from Wiltshire.

Six have been awarded OBEs, seven made MBEs and two given a British Empire Medal.

Among those awarded MBEs is explorer Alicia Hempleman-Adams, for services to Hot Air Ballooning.

The 34-year-old, from Holt, 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."

Here's a list of everyone from Wiltshire who's been given an honour in this year's list:

OBE

Stephen Hicks from Westbury, for services to Charity. He's the chair of food poverty charity The Trussell Trust.

Brian Kingham, from Marlborough, for services to Business, to the Economy and to Charity. He the founder and Chairman, Reliance Security Group.

Professor Ian White, from Corsham, for services to Higher Education and to Engineering. He is Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Bath.

David Wright, from Chippenham, services to the Safety of Children and Young People. Mr Wright is Director at UK Safer Internet Centre.

Dr Olivia Chapple from Salisbury, for services to People with Spinal Injuries. She's founder and Chair of Trustees, Horatio's Garden Charity.

Professor Anthony Fooks, from Salisbury, for services to Animal Health and Welfare. Professor Fooks is Lead Scientist, International Development, Animal and Plant Health Agency.

MBE

Beverly Clarke from Swindon, for services to education. She was National Community Manager, BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.

Simon Dunn from Trowbridge for services to Defence. System Design Authority, Military Satellite Communications, Airbus Defence and Space (UK).

David Firth. For services to the Westbury Lions, Wiltshire. (Trowbridge, Wiltshire) MBE

David Firth, from Trowbridge for services to the Westbury Lions.

Alicia Nicole Hempleman-Adams, from Holt, for services to Hot Air Ballooning.

David McNulty, from Bradford-on-Avon, services to Swimming. He's Head Coach at the British Swimming Performance Centre.

Hassan Pillai, from Bradford-on-Avon, for services to Fundraising and to Cancer support. He's a volunteer.

Peter Thompson, from Salisbury, for services to Farmland Ecology and Wildlife Conservation. He was Wildlife Biodiversity Adviser, Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust.

BEM

Carole Bush, from Bradford-on-Avon, for services to the community in Wiltshire.

Janice Moore, from Warminster, for services to the Keep Fit Association.

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