THE ‘EXTRAORDINARY’ achievements of Warwickshire residents have been recognised in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.
Environmentalists, those supporting veterans, and people working for greater understanding between faith communities are among those in the county to have received an Honour in 2022.
Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Jagtar Singh Gill from Kenilworth was appointed an OBE for services to the British Sikh and interfaith communities over the last two decades.
He helped deliver the £11million new build Leamington Spa & Warwick Gurdwara and was its General Secretary from 2009 to 2011. He also served as the Secretary General of Sikh Council UK in 2018 and since 2019 he has been working with Sikh Assembly while supporting funding for new Gurdwara projects and Sikh organisations.
Jagtar said: “I am humbled that my seva with Sikh organisations over the years locally and nationally including at Leamington & Warwick Gurdwara and with national representative Sikh organisations and the interfaith community has been recognised with this honour.”
Others honoured with OBEs included Julie Lindsay from Alcester for services to vulnerable people and the community, Dr Catherine Isabel McClay from Warwick for services to the energy sector and the promotion of decarbonisation, and David John Rivers Sleath from Warwick for services to charity and business.
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Anna March Trye from Leamington was awarded an MBE for services to young people and the bereaved in Warwickshire.
The 77-year-old is a patron of Warwickshire Young Carers, which supports young people caring for loved ones at home, and a former High Sheriff.
She was appointed an MBE for her dedication to the young people as well as bereaved patients she has counselled at Shipton Medical Practice. Ms Trye does not charge for this service but instead asks for a donation which she collects for bereavement charity Cruse.
As a High Sheriff, she has helped to organise a series of events to raise awareness of the needs of Young Carers and promote identification within local schools.
Jo-Anne Wilson from Southam was appointed an MBE for her support to veterans. Jo-Ann has managed Southam care home Galanos House since 2003 and holds the title of Queen’s Nurse while sitting on boards including Quality Matters, the task and finish group for the Royal College of Nursing and the South Warwickshire Registered Manager’s Network for Skills for Care.
Her colleague Jessica Kelsey said: “She’s tirelessly helped the home become a home for all residents and staff. The home’s been awarded best care home and palliative care award because of her leadership. And, on a more local level, she is an active member of Dementia Friendly Southam; she’s spent her whole nursing career help others and still continues today. There’s not a day when she’s not helping and supporting the staff to strive and shine through caring.
“Jo-Anne’s so honoured and privileged to receive the MBE but when she received the MBE she accepted not for herself but for the whole home. She’s selfless and an inspiration.”
Other MBE recipients in Warwickshire were Professor Iain Leslie Campbell Chaple from Shelfield for services to oral and dental health, and Thomas Gerard Dunn from Henley in Arden for services to Aviation.
Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)
Rugby’s Gita Natarajan, the manager of the town’s Locke House Covid vaccination centre and former manager of the Benn Partnership Centre, was awarded a BEM for services to the community in Rugby.
Cllr Heather Timms, Warwickshire County Council’s Heritage and Culture spokeswoman, said: “Congratulations to all our New Year’s Honours recipients whose hard work and dedication does so much to help bind our communities together. They truly are an inspiration and I’m delighted their efforts have been recognised.”
The individual honours are announced twice a year to mark The Queen’s official birthday in June, and at the end of December – the New Year Honours. Some 1,200 people are recognised in each list.
The Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire, Tim Cox, said: “These extraordinary people gave up their time to make Warwickshire a better and kinder place. I am delighted to see them gain the recognition they deserve in this year’s New Year’s Honours list.
“There are still so many people who go unrecognised for their hard work. If you know any unsung heroes, why not consider nominating them so they get the recognition they deserve in the next round of honours in June.”
Visit www.gov.uk/honours to nominate someone for an honour.
