York residents recognised in New Year Honours List
The 2021 list has been revealed.
The New Year Honours List for 2021 has been revealed, with residents across York and North Yorkshire having their hard work highlighted.
Shirley Collier from York has been awarded an MBE for services to Further Education. Her current role is Chair of Governors at York College, and in her time there the organisation has consistently delivered an excellent education for its students, is one of the highest rated educational institutions in the region, being judged Outstanding by OFSTED, and delivered a 100% A Level pass rate in 2019.
She has also fought to ensure that staff salaries and job satisfaction reflect their efforts and commitment despite financial constraints. Staff surveys always demonstrate just how proud staff are to work at the College.
On finding out the news, she said: "I was so taken aback that I assumed it was a prank! I spent about 20 minutes on LinkedIn finding the name of the person who signed the letter, and then I rang them to make sure it was real.
"It's not the kind of thing that I thought would ever happen to me".
Mary Chapman from Great Ouseburn is getting the British Empire Medal for services to children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
She set up the Nuzzlets Charity in York in 2004, a small voluntary group specialising in visits for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and life-threatening illnesses.
In 2007 she turned Nuzzlets into a charity and became DEFRA accredited as a countryside classroom and care farm. She visits special needs schools, nursing homes and inner-city nurseries with the animals, along with delivering talks about what Nuzzlets does, to children attending Beavers and other schools and colleges.
Many local schools visit, to learn about animal welfare, and two special needs schools visit weekly during term time to interact with and learn about the animals. She told us: "We're absolutely privileged to be able to welcome all of the rescued animals on site, but also all of the families who visit.
"To make a child smile each day is just the best feeling in the world. This isn't a job: it's something that we all love doing. This (the award) is fantastic because it makes you realise that people appreciate that we're helping so many people".
The full list for North Yorkshire is as follows:
ORDER OF THE BATH
Companions of the Order of the Bath (CB):
Professor Wendy Katherine Burn. President, Royal College of Psychiatrists. For services to Mental Health. (Ilkley, West Yorkshire)
Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE):
Nicholas John Rust. Lately Chief Executive, British Horseracing Authority. For services to Horseracing. (York, North Yorkshire)
Linda Grace Shears. Co-founder, Shears Foundation. For services to Charity. (Harrogate, North Yorkshire)
Janet Valerie Sheriff. Headteacher and National Leader of Education, Prince Henry's Grammar School, Otley. For services to Education in West Yorkshire. (Harrogate, North Yorkshire)
Shirley Jane Collier. Lately Chair of Governors, York College. For services to Further Education. (York, North Yorkshire)
Alexander John Hilton Mayfield. Supply Chain and Operations Director, Brakes. For services to the Food Supply Chain and to the Vulnerable during the Covid-19 Response. (York, North Yorkshire)
Rachel Poulton. Foster Carer, York City Council. For services to Fostering, particularly during the Covid-19 Response. (York, North Yorkshire)
Nigel Poulton. Foster Carer, York City Council. For services to Fostering, particularly during the Covid-19 Response. (York, North Yorkshire)
David William Brown. For services to the community in York. (York, North Yorkshire)
Mary Julie Chapman. Founder, Nuzzlets Charity, York. For services to Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. (Great Ouseburn, North Yorkshire)
Sarah Joyce. Superintendent Optometrist, Asda Supermarkets Ltd. For services to Primary Optical Care during the Covid-19 Response. (York, North Yorkshire)
Charlotte Park. Founder, Treats for Troops on Tour. For services to the Armed Forces. (Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire)
John Henry Richmond. For services to the community in Ripon, North Yorkshire. (Ripon, West Yorkshire)
Martin Andrew Rowley. For services to the community in York. (York, North Yorkshire)
Mark Adrian Stageman. County Commissioner for West Yorkshire. For services to Young People and Scouting. (Ilkley, West Yorkshire)
Colin Richard Weaver. Scientist, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. For services to Science. (Thirsk, North Yorkshire)
Nick Rust, outgoing chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority, for services to horseracing (York, North Yorkshire).
QUEEN'S AMBULANCE SERVICE MEDAL (QAM):
Cathryn Jean James. Clinical Pathways Manager, Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust. (Yorkshire)