New Year's Honours: East
A look at people from the East of England who've been recognised in this year's New Year's Honours List
96 people from the East of England who have contributed to their community and country are celebrated in His Majesty The King’s New Years Honours List today.
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 East of England make up 8.9% 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.
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
Lianne Marie Simpson - MBE
Lianne has supported the Cambridgeshire community since 2020 through Diamond Hampers, with a focus on the environment and tackling food waste.
She puts together hampers of balanced food to address a huge dignity gap across the community, providing not only tinned goods, but also a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen, and refrigerated items..
She ensures emergency food hampers are delivered seven days a week and refers vulnerable individuals to external agencies for long-term solutions.
As of 2025, her pioneering initiative has provided almost 630,000 meals to vulnerable people across the country and saved over 2.5 million tonnes of CO2. In addition, more than 345,000 meals have been re-directed from food waste.
She has successfully redirected over 1,000,000tons of food from rotting in landfill, amounting to almost £950,000 of food.
She also contributes towards the wellbeing of families whose children attend the Guiding Association groups by providing books, uniform and financial support to attend sessions that will allow their children a chance to get more involved with the community.
Alexander Gibson - MBE
The Chair and Founder of Challenging MND (CMND) has demonstrated exceptional courage and dedication since his MND diagnosis six years ago.
CMND distributes grants which help sufferers and their families, between 2018 and 2022, they raised £450,000 and between 2018 and 2025, this has increased significantly to £2.3m, with over 600 families benefitting.
He has become a powerful advocate for the MND community, delivering presentations to Rotary Clubs, schools, sports clubs and financial institutions.
Drawing on his experience as a Great Britain and England decathlete, he embarks on remarkable physical challenges to raise funds and awareness including a 50-mile walk, a double marathon, and a 24-hour cycle and swam 11 miles on Windermere.
Even as his physical condition deteriorates, he shows unwavering commitment and continues to inspire others with his outstanding leadership and relentless pursuit of a better life for those with MND.
Laura Drysdale - MBE
Laura has dedicated her life to preserving historic places and collections, always emphasising their public benefit.
In 2014, she created The Restoration Trust (TRT) and her attention turned to using historic assets to care for people, especially those struggling with mental health, who are often vulnerable and marginalised in our society.
Using contacts in the heritage sector, she brought together national heritage and arts bodies, including English Heritage and the National Trust, as well as smaller local organisations, with health and social care bodies, to offer ‘culture therapy’.
She has shown that heritage sites can be used as a form of therapy to improve mental health, by disseminating research into best practice, she inspired others and influenced heritage organisations to get involved, encouraging them to think about the public benefits of sites and collections.
She has created 8 culture therapy projects, which by 2022 had benefitted over 500 people with mental health conditions.
Clive Leslie Gritten - MBE
For over forty years, Clive has actively supported his local community in various roles.
He was a founder of, and served as, an ambassador for local able and disabled people through the Nancy Oldfield Trust, where he planned, delivered, and coached land and water activities for children, and developed disability awareness on behalf of the Sports Council.
He has volunteered as a Scout Leader for over 35 years, benefiting thousands of people by providing activities, training other leaders, and enabling young members to achieve their full potential, including being a Duke of Edinburgh trainer and assessor.
As a volunteer Magistrate and member of the Family Panel since 2000, he makes complex, life-changing decisions to ensure children's safety and security during challenging times.
Since 2016, he has been a volunteer Community First Responder, attending emergency calls ahead of ambulances, often making himself available 24 hours a day, and also provides first aid services at community events.
Ryan Appleton - BEM
Ryan receives a BEM for services to the community in the East of England. For the last eleven years Ryan has been a Community First Responder for East of England Ambulance Service, attending to over 4,500 patients in that time.
He co-established the Clacton First Responders Group, to raise money for new equipment, and improve the level of service, with the group attending more calls than 88% of other groups in the East of England in its first year of operation.
Malcolm Metcalf - BEM
92-year-old Malcolm Metcalf receives a BEM for Charitable services. Malcolm is proof that age is not a barrier to achievement.
He has spent years travelling the country and indeed the world raising money for charities back home, and inspiring the public through his talks.
In 2016, aged 82 he travelled across the UK on 125 buses in 29 days raising £20,000 for the East Coast Hospice, and in October 2023 raised over £6000 for Priscilla Bacon Hospice completing a European train tour and challenge.