A host of people from Nottinghamshire have been recognised for their hard work and services in this year's Queen's Honours List, released on her Platinum Jubilee weekend. Deputy Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire Police Rachel Barber and Nottingham Playhouse Chief Executive Stephanie Sirr are among those awarded and recognised for their services to the city and county.
DCC Barber has been given the Queen's Police Medal for 2022. She said: “I am extremely humbled, surprised and honoured to receive this award. I am immensely proud of the progress Nottinghamshire Police has made and continues to make, more recently alongside colleagues in Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, and that I’ve been able to be part of that journey.
"To see the influx of so many new officers and staff from diverse backgrounds has been one of the most rewarding moments in my career and to be able to train them in our new combined headquarters building is the icing on the cake."
Woman 'gobsmacked' after council rejects Jubilee street party - read more here.
Chief Constable Craig Guildford added: “On behalf of the entire force I’d like to congratulate DCC Barber for receiving this prestigious award. I am delighted that her dedication and significant contribution to policing and public service in Nottinghamshire has been recognised.”
Stephanie Sirr is the Chief Executive Officer at the Nottingham Playhouse and has been awarded an MBE for her services to arts. She has had the role since 2001 and, during the Covid pandemic, she has been a vocal advocate for the importance of regional theatre in the UK and a champion of the work of Nottingham Playhouse.
After learning she had received the award, Ms Sirr said: "I am really honoured to receive an MBE. It underlines how fortunate I have been to work alongside some really brilliant people over many years. This has enabled some transformative creative work to happen in and for the many communities I have been privileged to serve.”
Cllr David Mellen, Leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “It gives me great pleasure to congratulate Stephanie Sirr on receiving an MBE for her services to the arts. This is richly deserved and her passion and contribution to Nottingham’s cultural life has been enormous."
At the University of Nottingham, professors Rachel Gomes and Renee Sockett have both been honoured for their services to research and education and microbiology respectively. Professor Sockett said on her honour: “This is a huge and lovely surprise. It is testament to all the kindness, enthusiasm and support I’ve received from my husband, lab members, colleagues, collaborators, friends and students throughout my career as a microbiologist. My late mum and dad would be so pleased that 'their Elizabeth' is receiving this award at Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee. She has always inspired me as a resilient, hard-working woman with a strong sense of duty."
Chief Executive of charity Pulp Friction Susan Carter also makes this year's honours list for her work heping young people in the workplace. In tribute to The Queen, recipients have been awarded for their outstanding contributions across all sectors, but in particular for sustained public service, the environment and sustainability, and youth engagement. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “This historic Platinum Jubilee is not only a celebration of the monarch but of the qualities she possesses.
"The honours she confers this week reflect many of those qualities that have been invaluable from all different walks of life and to communities across the UK. I pay tribute to all of this year’s winners. Their stories of courage and compassionare an inspiration to us all.”
The following are all from Nottinghamshire and featured on the Queen's Honours List 2022:
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
Professor Renee Sockett, of the faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Nottingham, for services to microbiology.
Gemma Pearce, from Newark, Non-Executive Director, Coal Authority - for services to innovation and diversity.
Officers of the Order of the British Empire
Paula Webb, a trustee at the Pathological Demand Avoidance Society has been honoured for services to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
Members of the Order of the British Empire
George Carr-Williamson is head of regional governance and local government with the labour party and has been awarded the honour for political service.
Susan Carter has been honoured for her services to people with learning disabilities as the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pulp Friction, a charity which supports young people in the workplace.
Professor Rachel Gomes works in the faculty of engineering at the University of Nottingham and has been honoured for her services to research and education. She works as a professor of water and resource processing at the university.
Jane Hamlyn works as a potter in Nottinghamshire - she has been awarded for her services to pottery and ceramics.
Sandeep Mahal acts as the Lately Director for Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature -they have been honoured for services to Literature, the Arts and Culture in Nottingham.
Dr Marion Oswald, of Southwell has been honoured for services to digital innovation.
Professor Nicholas Peirce, from Nottingham, is the chief medical officer for the England and Wales Cricket Board and has been recognised for services to sport during Covid-19.
Stephanie Sirr is the Chief Executive Officer for the Nottingham Playhouse, awarded for services to the arts - she hails from Beeston.
David Wakelin in the Lately Director for the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Violence Reduction Unit who has been recognised for services to young people in Nottinghamshire.
Medallists of the Order of the British Empire
Richard Crabtree also makes the honours list for services to the community in Attenborough.
Damian Reynolds, from Nottingham, has been honoured for charitable services to the youth sector.
2022 Queen's Police Medal
- Rachel Barber, Deputy Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire Police.
Queen's Ambulance Service Medal
- Cherylene Camps, a paramedic for the East Midlands Ambulance Service.
This list includes recipients who consented to being featured in media reports.
To read all the biggest and best stories first sign up to read our newsletters here.
