New Year's Honours: South East
A look at people from the South East of England who've been recognised in this year's New Year's Honours List
164 people from the South East who have contributed to their community and country are celebrated in His Majesty The King’s New Year Honours List.
This year’s recipients include dedicated foster carers, role models in women's sports, committed health workers, champions of the arts, and supporters of young people.
Recipients from the South East make up 14 per cent of the total number of recipients receiving honours this year.
Every part of the UK is represented in the List, from the Western Isles to Liskeard in Cornwall.
The Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
“This year’s Honours list celebrates the very best of Britain – people who put the common good ahead of themselves to strengthen communities and change lives.
“Their quiet dedication speaks to the decent, compassionate country we are proud to be. On behalf of the whole nation, thank you – and congratulations to everyone recognised today.”
A snapshot of some of the people included in this New Year's Honours list - and their stories
Sonia Dixon and Adrienne Campbell - British Empire Medals
The sisters have been welcoming royals, prime ministers, popes, and heads of state to London's Heathrow Airport since 1989.
They started when diplomatic suites were government-funded retreats and, after over 35 years, still work as VIP liaison officers, offering speedy security and privacy.
Having witnessed multiple upgrades and expansions, they are the only ones who have seen the Royal Suite and other VIP lounges expand to include commercial customers like celebrities and chief executives.
The sisters, born in Aberdeen and later moving to Lancashire, joined the army as telegraphists and then began their Heathrow careers in the 1980s, initially in security before discovering their talent for soft-power diplomacy.
They possess a natural ability to gauge a customer's mood, are unfazed by status, and have even fixed problems at speed, such as stopping a flight to hoist vital documents onto a plane; despite being offered promotions, they prefer their face-to-face roles and have no plans to retire.
Gary Johnson and Helen Johnson - British Empire Medals
The Reading Rockets Basketball Club was founded in 1997 by a husband and wife, starting in Division 3 and quickly advancing to Division 1, the second tier below the professional British Basketball League.
The club has achieved significant success, including an undefeated season in 2008-09 where they won all four national championships, and a treble-winning season in 2013-14.
Under their leadership, the Rockets expanded to include nineteen teams for men, women, and juniors (under 12 upwards), and in 2023, they established two wheelchair teams.
Beyond competitive play, the club runs academies, provides community-based coaching in deprived areas and for children with special educational needs, and operates satellite clubs through the Community Rockets scheme.
In 2012, they established the Rockets Sports and Educational Foundation, which delivers activities in Reading, particularly in Whitley and Caversham, to promote healthy lifestyles and mental well-being, coaching over 800 people weekly across more than 20 community programs.
Mary Wright and Colin Wright - MBE
Mary Wright is a talented and successful gymnast since the age of seven, she went on to become a National Judge.
In 1974, her then partner Colin (now husband) set up Camberley Gymnastics Club, with her joining him shortly after.
Colin Wright has been involved in gymnastics for over 50 years and is the co-owner of Rushmoor Gymnastics Academy.
Along with his wife, they have been recognised as one of Britain's most successful coaching couples, producing two British Team Captains and numerous international performers.
Their vision was to create a 'competitive and recreational gymnastics facility, to bring gymnastics within reach of children of all ages and abilities and focus on developing their social and coordination skills'.
To achieve this, and whilst still holding down full-time teaching posts, they set about building one of the country’s first purpose-built gymnastics facilities.
The club has grown to become one of the largest in the UK, with over 1,000 members and a reputation for excellence.
Steven Ronald Munkley - MBE
Steven Munkley, who's from Borehamwood, is a well-known Executive Chef with over 35 years' experience in five-star establishments, serving 25 years as Executive Head Chef at The Royal Garden Hotel.
He has pioneered education and apprenticeships, training over one hundred apprentices, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, and helping them develop successful careers.
He has been a leading influence in the Craft Guild of Chefs for more than three decades, ensuring the organisation's success and raising the profile of the chef community.
He introduced the Craft Guild of Chefs Awards in 1994 and the Craft Guild of Chefs Graduate awards in 2003 to recognise and develop talent across all sectors of the industry.
He is an active member of the Worshipful Company of Cooks of London, achieving funding for charities that help disadvantaged young people, the former homeless, and ex-prisoners into worthwhile careers.
Michael Charles French - MBE
For over two decades, Michael French has been an indispensable force in the UK video games industry, profoundly impacting its business, culture, diversity, and charitable endeavours.He is the Head of Games London and Festival Director, London Games Festival.
He founded and developed the London Games Festival, which has grown into a flagship event, supporting over 1,000 game companies, generating a remarkable ÂŁ90M in business, and creating nearly 900 jobs.
He is a fervent advocate for diversity and inclusion, established the Game Changer initiative, co-curating the impactful Ensemble exhibition to showcase Black and global majority talent, and ensured the Games London programs prioritise individuals from underrepresented backgrounds.
Through his involvement with GamesAid, the UK games industry charity, he developed and runs the GamesAid Gala Night, which has raised over ÂŁ50,000 for charities supporting children and young adults.
His ability to foster strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including BAFTA, the Mayor's Office, the BFI, and UKIE, is a testament to his diplomacy and tireless work ethic.
Carl Portman - MBE
Carl's work in prisons is entirely voluntary, focussing on breaking down social barriers and engaging with prisoners through chess.
He has fostered interest in chess within prisons, encouraging its recognition as a purposeful activity during audits by HM Inspector of Prisons.
He gained ministerial support, including from a former Secretary of State for Justice, for his work.
He appeared in a BBC report in 2023, playing 9 simultaneous chess games at HMP Hewell with officers and prisoners, who spoke passionately about the benefits of chess.
He built, motivated, and managed an England Chess squad from HMP Hewell, which competed in the World Online Prison Chess Championship in October 2022.
Douglas Timms - MBE
Douglas Timms and his wife are committed volunteers for the British Heart Foundation (BHF), having joined a local branch in Carterton, Oxfordshire, soon after it was founded in 1988 after being motivated by family heart disease fatalities, and have served on its committee for 37 years.
The BHF branch successfully raised funds in excess of ÂŁ250,000 during its first 30 years, from 1988 to 2018.
They raise funds through a variety of activities, including bingo nights, coffee mornings, annual charity suppers, bazaars, and annual Christmas illuminations at their home, which typically raise over ÂŁ1000 through donations.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, they adapted their efforts by organising small-scale, safe-distance events like driveway sales and garden suppers, which successfully raised over ÂŁ1600.
In addition to their work with the BHF, they are locally known for informally assisting the community with building and carpentry expertise.
Jennifer Isobella Rayner - MBE
Jennifer launched The Lucy Rayner Foundation, following the death of her daughter by suicide, to support others by raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of mental health issues in young people and through counselling services, support groups, suicide bereavement services and schools’ programmes.
Using her entrepreneurial skills and over 30 years in sales, marketing, media, and event management, she built an impactful and sustainable charity.
The Foundation delivers specialist group sessions such as fitness classes for women to encourage conversations around mental health, boxing clubs for men, sessions for women going through menopause and groups focused on the many challenging issues faced by teenage girls.
In ten years, she grew the charity from her living room to an organisation with its own premises, a staff team of eight, and a counselling team of 50.
She has been highly proactive in securing charitable funding.
Timothy Denning Sparrow - MBE
Timothy was a founding member of the Southeast Communities Rail Partnership (CRP), which aims to improve connections between communities and local railways.
He voluntarily grew the Southeast CRP from a single train line to 10 community rail lines covering 112 stations.
His vision and leadership secured sustained buy-in from private companies, local government, and volunteers, creating financially stable community rail partnerships.
He introduced an award-winning education element to the partnerships, focusing on inclusion and reaching out to local schools and adults with support needs.
He has also served as Director of the Community Rail Network, supporting the formation of new CRPs and providing mentoring and guidance.
Toby Roberts - MBE
A leading British climber, Toby Roberts from Godalming became the first British Olympic Gold Medal winning sport climber at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at 19.
He has used his platform to promote sport climbing nationally and internationally, encouraging participation among young people.
He is a multiple National Champion in lead climbing and bouldering, and has secured numerous podium results for Great Britain at International Federation of Sport Climbing World Cup events.
He is actively involved in encouraging young climbers through outreach programs and events, and has worked with the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) and ClimbScotland to provide coaching and mentoring.
His involvement in promoting youth climbing and expanding climbing facilities across the UK has made the sport more accessible, inspiring countless young athletes, particularly from underrepresented groups.