Olympic sailors feature high in New Year hounors

Ben Ainslie, Iain Percy and Pippa Wilson have all been named in the Queen's New Year Honours List for their services to sport.

Lymington man Ben rewrote history in China winning his fourth medal – and third gold – to become Britain’s greatest ever Olympic sailor.

The 31-year-old, unbeaten in the Finn since entering the class in 2004, comfortably saw off his nearest rival Zach Railey from the US to sail his way into the record books – and was today honoured by being made a CBE.

Shortly after his Olympic triumph Lymington mayor Martina Humber called for Ainslie, who already has an OBE, to be given a knighthood.

Last night she welcomed the decision to make him a CBE instead.

“It’s absolutely wonderful – he fully deserves it,” said Cllr Humber.

Former mayor Jean Vernon-Jackson added: “Ben deserves it – he has taken virtually all the prizes there are in sailing.”

Winchester’s Iain Percy, 32, who won gold in the Star class following a nerve wracking medal race, receives an OBE.

Former Solent University student Paul Goodison, 31, narrowly missed out on a bronze in Athens but made up for it by taking gold at Beijing and receives an OBE.

Gold medal winner Pippa Wilson, 22, from Lymington, was made an MBE, after winning the Yngling class alongside crewmates Sarah Ayton and Sarah Webb.

Also honoured was Olympic Sailing Team manager Stephen Park from Fareham for helping the team bring home a record medal haul of four gold, one silver and one bronze.

Today’s New Year Honours list also recognises some of Hampshire’s most dedicated charity workers.

RYA Chairman Richard Langford said: “We are all absolutely delighted that the sailors have been fittingly recognised and with the well deserved OBE for Stephen Park, whose enormous effort and hard work has been reflected in the great success of the sailors at the past two Olympic Games.

"We congratulate them all.”

Christopher Davis

Christopher Davis, 52, is made an MBE for charitable services after setting up Southampton City and Region Action To Combat Hardship (Scratch) in 1999 to help the city’s most vulnerable.

He has built up the charity to include the distribution of food, clothes, furniture and white goods to thousands of needy people each year.

Mr Davis said: “You don’t do this stuff for awards. You do it because you believe in it and it needs to be done. But it’s a tremendous honour.

“Although only one person is nominated it’s a whole team that carries out this work. I accept it on behalf of them.”

He said the award topped off a “brilliant Christmas” for Scratch after the charity received a £32,000 grant from Daily Echo owner Gannett.

Scratch will use the money to buy a 7.5 tonne lorry to continue its work helping struggling families.

Russ Parke

The Scouts’ Assistant County Commissioner Russ Parke, 59, of Cadnam, who last year helped prepare the first team of scouts conquer Mount Everest has been made an MBE.

He has led expeditions which have taken hundreds of Hampshire scouts around the globe during the last twenty years.

Russ, who was a police officer for 30 years, began his Scouting career as a mountain instructor with Southampton’s 25th Northam Scout Group.

He said: “When I was told that I had been awarded the MBE I was gobsmacked. My name might be on the award but it is also for all those young people who have supported me over the years.”

Guy Smales

Neighbourhood Watch veteran Guy Smales of Chandler’s Ford has been made an MBE for his voluntary service to the crime busting association.

For almost 20 years the 77-year-old has backed numerous campaigns to improve the safety of residents living in Hampshire through his role as president of the Eastleigh and Romsey Neighbourhood Watch Association.

He was also chairman of the Hampshire Neighbourhood Watch Association for six years before stepping down last year.

The retired IBM worker said: “What is particularly satisfying for me is that this award shows that the Government, at the highest level is recognising the work and importance of neighbourhood watch groups.”

Colin Rouse

Royal Air Force veteran Colin Rouse, from Lee-on-the-Solent, has been made a MBE for his voluntary work as a trustee of the British Limbless Ex-Service Men’s Association (BLESMA).

Jenny Frank
Jenny Frank, 57, from Stockbridge, has been made an MBE for her services to young carers nationwide as The Children’s Society programme manager.

The mother-of three said: “I would like to say thanks to my family and my team at The Children’s Society as I could not have done the work without their support.”

Wendy Hall

Professor Wendy Hall, a Southampton University professor of computer science, has been made a Dame of the British Empire for services to science and technology.

The former head of the university’s School of Electronics and Computer Science who lives in the New Forest, is president of the British Computer Society, Senior Vice-President of the Royal Academy of Engineering and President of the Association for Computing Machinery.

John Coughlan

The Director of Children’s Services at Hampshire County Council, who was recently seconded to take charge of Haringey Council’s troubled children’s department following the Baby P neglect scandal, has been awarded a CBE.

John Coughlan, who finishes his stint at the beleaguered London council today, has been given the award for services to local government.

Married Mr Coughlan, who has two children and lives in Romsey, said: “I especially want to thank my family, my colleagues and the elected members in Hampshire. Without all their backing this would not have been possible.”

George Band

George Band, of Hook, receives an OBE for services to mountaineering and to charity.Nadia Chambers

Dr Nadia Chambers, Consultant Nurse for Older People at Southampton General Hospital has been given an OBE for services to healthcare.

The 48-year-old said: “This area of nursing is always challenging and there’s always something new.”

David Adey

A GP who has spent 29 years serving the Woolston community has been made an MBE for his services to healthcare.

Dr David Adey, based at the Spitfire Surgery, said the award was not just for him, but all the staff he worked alongside.

During his career he has been heavily involved in improving Southampton’s mental health services, and was the city’s joint health and social services clinical director for mental health.

The married 55-year-old of Warsash who has two grown up sons, said: “It is a huge tribute to the teams of people I have worked with, including the surgery nurse practitioner Judy Watson and Lisa Hill from the district nursing team.”

...also honoured

Dr Geoff Ridgway of Moortown, Ringwood, has been made an OBE for his services to clinical microbiology.

The 64-year-old, whose main interest is in infections in intensive care units, said: “It reflects teamwork, and I’ve been working with a wonderful team at the Department of Health.”

Captain John Alan Roberts from Fareham has been made a MBE for his services to Royal Navy personnel.

He is a former chief executive of the White Ensign Association, a charity that provides advice for serving and ex-serving Royal Navy and Royal Marines members.

Keith Blackwell, of West Wellow, who is the principal of Esher Sixth Form College in Surrey, receives an OBE for services to local and national further education.

Robert Upton, of Fleet, the secretary-general of the Royal Town Planning Institute, is made a CBE for public service.

Brian John Chappell, of Waterlooville, is made an MBE for public service as is retired Royal Navy serviceman Lt Cdr Brian Leslie Maddock, of Portsmouth, chief umpire at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships, for services to tennis.

The same honour is given to Jane Pratt, a governor at The Connaught School, Aldershot, for voluntary service to education.

Bernard Francisco Ribeiro, of Alresford, former president of the Royal College of Surgeons, is made a CBE for his services to medicine.

Keith Young, policy lead for adult critical care services at the Department of Health, who lives near Lymington, receives an OBE.

Dr Andrew Low, from Southampton, receives an OBE for his services to the defence industry.