Community heroes who have gone the extra mile to improve education, prospects for young people and reduce poverty in the county are among those named in this year’s Queen’s Birthday honours list.
David Anderson QC, from Ipswich, will receive a knighthood for services to National Security and Civil Liberties.
Mr Anderson, a barrister, was the UK’s Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation between 2011 and 2017.
MORE: Suffolk Royal Ballet star Gary Avis awarded MBE in Queen’s Birthday Honours
Richard Bridgman, founder and owner of Warren Services, has been awarded an OBE for his services to apprenticeships for young people.
The 70-year-old businessman, who lives in Bury St Edmunds, has helped to train scores of young people since the firm was established in 1990.
He said: “To be recognised for this with an OBE is just fantastic and a very great honour.”
MORE: Suffolk publisher Liz Calder is awarded CBE in birthday honours
Derek Blake, from Clare, has been made an MBE for services to education and to the community in Suffolk.
Mr Blake was the founding vice-chairman of Stour Valley Educational Trust, the Trust that set up Stour Valley Community School in Clare, the first free school in the country to have its business plan approved.
He said: “The chance to set up and run a secondary school from scratch was a once in a lifetime opportunity for the local community in Clare, and it was a privilege to be part of the amazing team of people who came together to make it possible.”
Halford Hewitt, chief executive of Ipswich Housing Action Group (IHAG) has been made an MBE for his services to homeless people in Suffolk.
He said: “This award is really for the work of IHAG, a small local organisation which has been dedicated to serving vulnerable people in the community of Ipswich for over 40 years.”
Henry Wilson, project director at REACH Community Projects, has been awarded an MBE.
REACH are a charity based in Haverhill who work to tackle poverty in the area, as well as running the town’s food bank.
He said: “The aim is to lift people out of poverty, to restore their dignity and to put them on a pathway to some financial security.”
“I come from a poor family myself.
“It shows that a background of poverty doesn’t define your future.”
Also included in the honours list are Margaret Baxter, from Needham Market, who has received a BEM for services to people with sight impairment in Stowmarket as has Leveson Campbell, from Aldeburgh, for services to the Church of England and to the community in East Suffolk.
Jessica Cook, founding director of Can You Hear Us, has been awarded the BEM for voluntary services to neurofibromatosis type 2 patients while Diane Pannell was awarded a BEM for services to amateur music making in the community of Suffolk.
Mrs Pannell said: “It’s amazing, I didn’t expect it.
“It is lovely to be recognised but I still can’t quite believe it.”
Linda Howe, from Bury St Edmunds, received a BEM for services to the community in Honington and Sapiston after helping to secure funding for project to transform a village hall.
She said she was’ surprised and delighted’ to have been honoured.
Anne Rush, who is from Thetford, also received a BEM for services to the community in Barnham Village.
Honours are given to people from all walks of life and sections of society who have made a difference to their community. Anyone can make a nomination.
If you would like advice on how to nominate somebody for a National Honour, please contact the Lieutenancy Office at Suffolk County Council by emailing honours@suffolk.gov.uk.
Information can also be found at www.suffolk.gov.uk.
Here is the full list of people in Suffolk named on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list:
ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE
KBE
David William Kinloch Anderson, QC. Formerly Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation. For services to National Security and to Civil Liberties. (Ipswich)
CBE
Mrs Elizabeth Nicole Calder. Co-founder, Bloomsbury Publishing. For services to Literature. (Suffolk)
OBE
Richard William Bridgman. Founder and Owner Warren Services Ltd. For services to apprenticeships for young people. (Bury St Edmunds)
MBE
Gary Christopher Avis. For services to Dance and to charity in Suffolk. (Suffolk)
Derek James Blake. Formerly vice-Chair of Governors Stour Valley Community School, Clare. For services to Education and to the community in Suffolk. (Sudbury)
Halford Hewitt. Chief executive Officer Ipswich Housing Action Group. For services to Homeless People in Ipswich. (Manningtree)
Henry Richard Wilson. Project director REACH Community Projects. For services to the community in Haverhill, Suffolk. (Haverhill)
BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL
Mrs Margaret Amethe Napier Baxter. For services to People with Sight Impairment and to the community in Stowmarket, Suffolk. (Needham Market)
Leveson Granville Andrew Campbell. For services to the Church of England and to the Community in East Suffolk. (Aldeburgh)
Ms Jessica Helen Cook. Founding director Can You Hear Us. For voluntary services to Neurofibromatosis Type 2 Patients. (Halesworth)
Mrs Linda Anne Howe. For services to the community in Honington and Sapiston, Suffolk. (Bury St Edmunds)
Mrs Diane Jean Pannell. For services to Amateur Music Making in the community in Suffolk. (Haverhill)
Mrs Anne Elizabeth Sarah Rush. For services to the community in Barnham Village, North Suffolk. (Thetford)
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