Joy for Queen's Honours List award recipients (From Gazette Series)

Joy for Queen's Honours List award recipients in Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire

12:56pm Monday 31st December 2012 in News

THE HEAD of the Slimbridge-based Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust has expressed his surprise and pride at being awarded a CBE for his work in wildlife conservation.

Chief executive Martin Spray has devoted half his career to working for conservation organisations and has been with WWT since 2004.

Reacting to news of being awarded a CBE in the Queen's New Year Honours list, Mr Spray said he was a bit overwhelmed and extremely proud to receive it.

"I’m also thrilled to see that the importance of work in wildlife conservation has been recognised in this way," he said.

"I think I have been part of a team at WWT ensuring that the organisation goes from strength to strength, and that we are always carrying out the vision and work which our founder Sir Peter Scott would have wanted."

In 1988 Mr Spray moved into the conservation world as area manager with the World Wide Fund for Nature and three years later to the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust as its first Chief Executive.

Prior to moving to WWT he was seconded to the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts as its Acting Chief Executive.

Joan Clark, of Lantern Close in Berkeley, was awarded an MBE for her services to tourism with her work with the British Holiday and Home Parks Association.

The Gloucester-based association is the national trade body for the £2.97 billion parks industry and represents 80 per cent of the total licensed caravan and self-catering "on-site" pitches in the UK.

Ms Clark, 57, joined BH&HPA as policy director in 2001 and was promoted to Association’s deputy director general in 2004.

"I didn't have a clue until I got the letter," she said. "It is humbling that my work should be recognised in this way but a fantastic honour.”

Gloucestershire’s temporary chief constable Mick Matthews has been awarded the Queen's Police Medal after filling the gap left by previous incumbent Tony Melville.

The head of Gloucestershire Police has announced he will be leaving the job in January for an international policing role in Cyprus.

"I am extremely grateful for this honour. It was certainly not expected and I feel privileged to have been nominated," he said.

"Receiving the Queens Police Medal puts a very positive end to nearly 31 years policing in the UK."

Dursley resident David Penlington received an OBE for his "for services to the Armed Forces particularly in support of Afghanistan operations".

Mr Penlington was recognised for his work as a team leader at the Ministry of Defence where he ensures life-saving military equipment is delivered to those on the frontline, including those designed to detect improvised explosive devices.

Avon and Somerset Police’s Kathy Ford, of Portishead, was also singled out on the Queen’s Honours List and awarded an MBE for her services to information management in policing.

During her 22 years with the constabulary, the current head of corporate information services has been involved in rolling out the 1998 Data Protection Act. She was also instrumental in implementing the recommendations of the Freedom of Information Act in 2000.

She said: "I find it amazing that I can receive this award for doing something I have thoroughly enjoyed every single day for the more than 22 years and coming towards the end of my career. It is a wonderful conclusion to my career with Avon and Somerset Police."

Eighty-year-old grandmother Dorene Hargreaves, from Wick in South Gloucestershire, was awarded the British Empire Medal for her services to fitness.

Mrs Hargreaves, who teaches aerobics classes and dance sessions to the over 50s, was handed the honour in recognition of the help she provides people through the three fitness classes she teaches a week, two in Ashton and one in Wick. The former dancer has been teaching keep fit classes for 50 years.