New Year Honours list recognises heroes from across the south
A retiring Coastguard Rescue Officer from the Isle of Wight is among dozens of people across the south who've been recognised
Martin Rayner from Ventnor has played a key role in more than 2,000 rescues on the Isle of Wight.
He's been awarded a British Empire Medal.
He signed up as an Auxiliary Coastguard on 17 April, 1980, and went on to play a key role in more than 2,000 rescues on the Isle of Wight, quickly becoming a vital part of the service and an inspiration to others.
Despite this weekend being Martin’s final few days with HM Coastguard, his service will not be forgotten, ending with the bestowal of a British Empire Medal (BEM).
“I’m really honoured. My father was in the service before me so between us we have been a part of the Coastguard family for around 70 years,” Martin said.
During the great storm of 1987, Martin was among the first to hear a call to mobilise from Solent Coastguard. He then spent the day helping people with the Ventnor team.
Years later, in 2014, he was still dedicated and part of another historic response – this time to evacuate homes at risk from a landslip on Undercliff Drive between Niton and St Lawrence.
An ever-present, Martin also loved passing on his knowledge in training, as well as representing the service at Ventnor carnivals and by laying a wreath in Ventnor Park for Remembrance every year.
Before word of his BEM was revealed, Martin received a warm send off at a special leaving ceremony on 10th December, where he was presented with an award for 40 years of service and a good conduct clasp.
He said: “Being a Coastguard Rescue Officer for the last 42 years has been a way of life for me and my family.
“I have had a fantastic time in the service, feeling that I have given something back to the community.
“My family have supported me throughout and I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Here is a list of people from Dorset, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and West Sussex who've been recognised this year.
Order of the British Empire
Knighthoods
The Right Honourable Doctor Julian Murray LEWIS MP
Member of Parliament for New Forest East and Chair, Intelligence and Security Committee. For Political and Public Service
(Southampton, Hampshire)
Dr Martin Peter READ CBE
Chairman, Wincanton plc. For services to Industry and for public and voluntary service
(Bishops Waltham, Hampshire)
Order of the Bath
Companions of the Order of the Bath
Ian Anthony BOOTH
Chief Executive, Submarine Delivery Agency, Ministry of Defence. For services to Defence
(Hampshire)
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
John Clive William Avon CAULCUTT
For services to Charity and to Philanthropy
(Sutton Scotney, Hampshire)
Professor Jane Cecelia FALKINGHAM OBE
Professor of Demography and International Social Policy, University of Southampton. For services to Demographic Research
(Southampton, Hampshire)
Nicholas VETCH
Co-founder, Big Yellow Self Storage Company. For services to Refugees
(Chichester, West Sussex)
Claire Lois WHITAKER OBE
Member, Culture Recovery Board. For services to the Arts and Culture
(Poole, Dorset)
Officers of the Order of the British Empire
Russell Andrew Foster CORN
Chairman of Trustees, The Special Boat Service Association. For Charitable Service
(Wimborne, Dorset)
Helen GOULDEN
Chief Executive Officer, The Young Foundation. For services to the Development of Sustainable Communities
(Alton, Hampshire)
Beverley Karen GOWER-JONES
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Carbon Limiting Technologies. For services to Net Zero Innovation
(Fleet, Hampshire)
Wendy Elizabeth HAXELL
Technical Official, UK Athletics. For services to Athletics and to the community in Hampshire
(Waterlooville, Hampshire)
Susan PITTOCK
Chief Executive Officer, Remit Training. For services to Education and Skills
(Portsmouth, Hampshire)
Members of the Order of the British Empire
Elizabeth Esther Mary Manning BAILY
For services to Disability Advocacy and to Charity in West Sussex
(Chichester, West Sussex)
Paul Richard BISHOP
Trainer, Sail Training International. For services to Young People
(Gosport, Hampshire)
Lieutenant Commander Anthony James EAGLES RN
Lately Helicopter Policy Specialist, Civil Aviation Authority. For services to Aviation Safety
(Sherborne, Dorset)
Hamish Murray Andrew ELVIDGE BEM
Founder and lately Chair, The Support After Suicide Partnership. For services to Mental Health
(Hartley Wintney, Hampshire)
Professor Beverley Elizabeth HARDEN
Deputy Chief Allied Health Professions Officer, Health Education England. For services to Healthcare
(Stockbridge, Hampshire)
Peter Robert JARDINE
Volunteer, Isle of Wight Steam Railway. For services to Heritage Railway
(Newport, Isle of Wight)
Colin Leslie Albert KEYWOOD
Medical Support Volunteer, St John Ambulance Sussex. For voluntary service to First Aid in East and West Sussex
(Sompting, West Sussex)
Dean LEDGER
Lead IT Engineer, Royal Navy Maritime Support Unit, Carbon60 Ltd. For services to the Royal Navy
(Southsea, Hampshire)
David Claude Ernest MANN
Co-chair, Freehold LGBT+ CIC. For services to Inclusion in the Property Industry
(West Sussex)
John Robert SUTTON
Director of Amateur Choirs. For services to Charitable Fundraising
(Winchester, Hampshire)
Steven Robert TENNET
Border Force Higher Officer, Freight Intensification Team, Home Office. For Public Service
(Southampton, Hampshire)
Professor Dr Simon Benjamin Nicholas THOMPSON
For services to Clinical Psychology Education and to Healthcare Improvements
(Poole, Dorset)
Janet Mary THURGOOD
Lately Corporate Director for Adult Social Care, Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council. For services to People with Learning Disabilities
(Poole, Dorset)
Geoffrey David WILKINSON
For services to People with Disabilities in Southampton, Hampshire
(Southampton, Hampshire)
Medallists of the Order of the British Empire
Mary BUCK
For services to the NHS and to the community in Dorset, particularly during Covid-19
(Swanage, Dorset)
David CROSS
Storekeeper, Royal Navy Maritime Support Unit, Carbon60 Ltd. For services to the Royal Navy and to Naval Veterans
(Gosport, Hampshire)
Rosemary Ann FAIRFAX
For services to Portsmouth Cathedral and to the community in Portsmouth, Hampshire
(Portsmouth, Hampshire)
Leslie Sandra FRANCIS
Sub Postmaster, Enham Alamein Post Office. For services to the Post Office and to the community in Enham Alamein, Hampshire
(Andover, Hampshire)
Jonathan GILBEY
For services to the community in Shanklin, Isle of Wight
(Shanklin, Isle of Wight)
Valerie Ann HART
For services to the community in Petersfield, Hampshire
(Petersfield, Hampshire)
Clare HOBBS
Founder, Wessex Dance Academy. For services to Young People in Hampshire
(Winchester, Hampshire)
Kenneth Robbin MOORE
For services to the communities in Titchfield and Warsash, Hampshire
(Fareham, Hampshire)
David Muir NESBIT JP
For services to Charity and to the community in Portsmouth, Hampshire
(Southsea, Hampshire)
Ann PINHEY
Music Teacher and Conductor. For services to Music, to Choirs and to Charity
(Petersfield, Hampshire)
Janette RADFORD
Prison Officer, HM Prison The Verne, Portland, Dorset. For services to Prisoners and to AgeUK
(Portland, Dorset)
Martin Frank Sydney RAYNER
Volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officer, Isle of Wight. For services to Maritime Safety
(Ventnor, Isle of Wight)
Rev. Canon David Alan TWINLEY
For services to the community in Arundel, West Sussex, particularly during Covid-19
(Arundel, West Sussex)
Molly WATTS
Writer. For services to Literature during Covid-19
(Southampton, Hampshire)
Hayley Jane WHEELER
Global Student Support and Events Coordinator, University of Portsmouth. For services to Higher Education
(Southsea, Hampshire)
Louise Margaret WILDERS
For services to the community in Portsmouth, Hampshire during Covid-19
(Petersfield, Hampshire)