Honoured! Twenty-two of Hampshire’s best recognised for King’s birthday

King Charles III’s first birthday honours list has been released, naming twenty-two Hampshire residents.

Among those receiving an MBE is Stephen Robert Smith of Lymington.

Stephen, lately chief engineer at BAE Systems Digital Intelligence, is being recognised for his service to Defence.

Gary Paul John Shaughnessy. Chair of Z Zurich Foundation and Parkinson’s UK has been awarded a CBE.

The Tadley resident is being recognised for services to Business and to Charity.

Meanwhile, Southampton’s Virendra Mahendrakumar Patel is receiving a BEM for services to the community in Hampshire.

Virendra is the Technical Support Partner at John Lewis and Partners.

The full list is as follows:

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Gary Paul John Shaughnessy. Chair, Z Zurich Foundation and Parkinson’s UK. For services to Business and to Charity. (Tadley)

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Ingrid Marika Sarah Southworth. Lately Director International Affairs, Cabinet Office. For Public Service, particularly for services to British Foreign Policy. (Winchester)

Mark Thomas Sheridan. Deputy Director, HM Revenue and Customs Fraud Investigation Service. For services to Combatting Fiscal Fraud and to Staff Mentoring. (Southampton)

Dr Jenifer Ann Evelyn Smith. Lately Deputy Medical Director, Public Health England. For services to Sport during Covid-19. (Romsey)

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Karen Jane Farr. Children and Young Persons Manager, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service. For services to Young People and to Public Safety. (Eastleigh)

Fiona Jane Hoban. Assistant Remembrancer (Ceremonial), Guildhall, City of London. For services to the City of London and to the State Funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II. (Southampton)

Ian Philip Howard. Vice President, World Triathlon. For services to Triathlon. (Hook)

Anthony Kevin Male. For services to Charity and to the community in Portsmouth, Hampshire. (Southsea)

Michael Albert Paul McGrath DL. Founder and Chief Executive Officer, The Muscle Help Foundation. For charitable services to People with Muscular Dystrophy. (Waterlooville)

Shiva Chandra Niraula. Pandit, Brigade of Gurkhas, Ministry of Defence. For pastoral services to Military Personnel. (Aldershot)

David John Poole. Clockmaker. For services to Horology and Heritage Crafts. (Whitchurch)

Gareth William Powell. Lately Chief Customer and Strategy Officer, Transport for London. For services to Transport and to the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. (Basingstoke)

Stephen Robert Smith. Lately Chief Engineer, BAE Systems Digital Intelligence. For services to Defence. (Lymington)

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)

Malcolm John Leslie Dent. For services to the community in Gosport, Hampshire. (Gosport)

Steven Paul Edney. Fundraiser, Brittle Bone Society. For services to Charity. (Basingstoke)

Guy Melvin Hurst. President, Basingstoke Astronomical Society. For services to Amateur Astronomy. (Basingstoke)

Ann Elizabeth Norman. Lately Professional Lead for Criminal Justice and Learning Disabilities, Royal College of Nursing. For services to Healthcare Access. (Southampton)

Virendra Mahendrakumar Patel. Technical Support Partner, John Lewis and Partners. For services to the community in Hampshire. (Southampton)

Linda Frances Matthews. Lately Director, Yateley Industries for the Disabled Ltd and Chief Executive Officer, Careers Development Group, WISE Ability. For services to Charity and to People with Disabilities. (Fareham)

Selwyn Richard Sykes Walker. For services to the community in Preston Candover, Hampshire. (Basingstoke)

Andrew Wing. For services to the community in Gosport, Hampshire. (Gosport)

King’s Police Medal

Nicholas Brian Elton. lately Chief Inspector, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary.

The honours system

The honours system is a system of awards and decorations given to individuals and organizations for their outstanding achievements and service to the nation.

The system is divided into several different ranks, each of which has its own criteria for eligibility.

The following are the different ranks within the British honours system:

• Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GBE) – The highest rank in the British honours system, awarded for “exceptionally distinguished service to the nation”.
• Knight/Dame Commander (KBE/DBE) – A step down from the GBE, awarded for “distinguished service to the nation”.
• Commander (CBE) – A further step down, awarded for “an outstanding contribution to any walk of life”.
• Officer (OBE) – A step down from the CBE, awarded for “an outstanding achievement or service to the community”.
• Member (MBE) – The most junior rank, awarded for “distinguished service to the community”.
• British Empire Medal (BEM) – A step down from the MBE, awarded for “meritorious service to the community”.

In addition to these ranks, there are also a number of other awards and decorations that can be awarded by the British honours system, including:

• Companion of Honour (CH) – A special award for individuals who have made a “major contribution to the arts, sciences, medicine, or government lasting over a long period of time”.
• Royal Victorian Order (RVO) – A personal award for services performed on behalf of the Royal Family.
• George Cross (GC) – The highest award for civilian gallantry.
• Victoria Cross (VC) – The highest award for military gallantry.