New Year Honours List celebrates unsung heroes from the south west
92 community champions across the region have been recognised in HM The King's New Year Honours List 2025
Last updated 31st Dec 2024
92 people from the South West of England have received honours in HM The King’s New Year Honours List 2025.
The list of this year's recipients has been published today by the Cabinet Office.
Unsung heroes across the UK have been awarded for their outstanding contributions across all sectors, but in particular community champions and selfless giving are recognised. The List ensures that people from underrepresented communities and a wide variety of types of work are rewarded, to celebrate the fantastic contribution of people throughout the country.
Recipients from the South West of England make up 8% of the total number of recipients receiving honours this year.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said:
“Each and every day, ordinary people go out and do extraordinary things for their communities.
“They represent the very best of the UK and that core value of service which I put at the centre of everything this government does.
"Unsung heroes"
“The New Year Honours List celebrates more of these unsung heroes, and I thank them for their incredible contribution.”
Notable recipients across the South West:
Colleen and David Healy from Radstock both receive a BEM for services to foster care, after almost 15 years as dedicated foster carers for Plymouth City Council. They have provided over 30 highly vulnerable children with love and stability in a safe, nurturing environment.
Tracey Bowers from Cheltenham receives an MBE for services to the Armed Forces Community. The UK’s sole authority to formally identify military casualties discovered from 1914 onwards, and to afford them a dignified military funeral, rests with Tracey. Each case concludes in a full military burial in a Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, supported by the deceased’s successor regiment or unit, and often with family members in attendance. Through her tireless perseverance and exceptional commitment, she has successfully delivered 305 such ceremonies: some attended by VVIPs, some more modest, but all at the impeccable benchmark set by the UK.
Helen Glover receives an OBE for her service to rowing after returning from retirement for the 2024 Paris Olympic games. The rower, from Penzance, won silver in the 2024 games as part of Great Britain's women's four, having previously twice retired after winning pairs golds at London 2012 and in Rio in 2016.
Leslie Lipert receives an MBE for services to the Jewish Community in Cornwall. Throughout the last 20 years, Leslie has been involved in numerous projects seeking to preserve Jewish History in the area, protecting and restoring at-risk sites. His work has further allowed for better communal links between the Jewish Community and the wider community in Cornwall, fostering stronger community ties through cooperation and education.
Aged 100 years old, and one of the three centenarians on this year’s list, Roy Gibson receives a BEM for services to space. Roy has had an immeasurable impact on UK and European space policy over his 70-year career as a leader for multiple international space organisations.
Nick Gazzard, a father whose daughter was murdered by her ex-boyfriend has spoken of his honour after being made an OBE for his work in tackling violence against women. The 60 year old set up the Hollie Gazzard Trust after her death in 2014 and has dedicated his life’s work to helping those affected by domestic abuse and stalking.
Carole Gould and Julie Devey, co-founders of Killed Women, a group supporting families affected by male violence, have been made Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the New Year Honours.