Author Archives: HM Government

Jonathan Lyle, Chief Executive of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has been made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).

Jonathan is recognised in the 2017 Queen’s Birthday Honours List, in recognition of his exemplary contribution to defence science and engineering over the past 41 years.

As Chief Executive, Jonathan has been responsible for reshaping Dstl’s scientific capabilities to embrace and exploit new disruptive technologies. Through his leadership, dedication, drive and commitment, Dstl has achieved a reputation across government for delivering cutting-edge scientific and technology initiatives.

Jonathan said that his honour reflected the amazing work done by colleagues throughout his career:

I have had the privilege to work with so many talented and committed people. I am deeply honoured to have been recognised with the CB and really do feel this is a reflection of a combined team effort across the lab.

Chair of the Dstl Board Sir David Pepper added:

It has been a privilege and a pleasure to work with Jonathan; he is an exemplary leader, and epitomises the highest standard of public service. He has done an enormous amount for Dstl, and for the use of science and technology in the defence and security of the UK. This award rightly recognises his contribution, and I am delighted to congratulate him on his achievement.

Prior to taking up his current role in 2012, Jonathan worked in a number of roles including:

• Director of Helicopters at the Defence Equipment & Support
• Director of the College of Management and Technology
• Operations Director at the Defence Procurement Agency
• MOD’s Head of Profession for Science
• Head of the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors

He has also worked in the Cabinet Office and the Department for Trade and Industry where he implemented a cross-government science and technology strategy.

Jonathan is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of both the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

He was educated at Kingswood School, Bath, the Royal Naval Engineering College, Plymouth, and University College London.

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I’m delighted to extend my warmest congratulations to everyone recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Those who work tirelessly and diligently in their communities are today seeing their names listed alongside luminaries from the worlds of the arts and sport, and they can be rightly proud of their achievements.

It is always so uplifting to hear of the good work being done by those honoured, and to see the positive difference they make to our nation. I am proud to add my thanks and congratulations to them all.

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MBE Paul Matthew Adams Lately G7, Assessment, Curriculum and Qualifications Group, Department for Education. For services to the Department for Education and to the community in Basildon MBE Norma Alcock Volunteer, NSPCC. For services to Vulnerablel Children MBE Julie Anne Allen Headteacher, Birkwood Primary School, Barnsley. For services to education MBE Mohammad Ashfaq Founder and Managing Director, Kikit Pathways to Recovery, Birmingham. For services to Vulnerable People MBE Francis Gordon Askew Lately Literacy and Phonics Advisor, Department for Education. For services to education. MBE Lynne Ann Atkin HR Director, Barclays UK and Global Head of Employee Relations, Barclays Bank. For services to Human Resources in the Banking Sector MBE Shazia Azhar Diverse Leaders Network. For services to education MBE William Edward Hampshire Bagnall Governor and Chair, Finance and Strategy Committee, The Sixth Form College Farnborough, Hampshire. For services to education. MBE John Baker Chair of Governors, Queen Boudica Primary School, Essex, and National Leader of Governance. For services to education MBE John Beresford Volunteer, Show Racism the Red Card Campaign. For services to education MBE Jennifer Bridget Billington Deputy Headteacher, Sir Tom Finney Community High School, Preston. For services to special educational needs and Disabilities MBE Georgina Felicia Tutuaa Bondzi-Simpson Chair of Governors, Kingsbury High School. For services to education MBE Paul Lawrence Brown Mechanical Instrumentation Workshop Manager, Imperial College London. For services to higher education MBE John Buttrick Lately Director and Honorary President, Hull Children’s University. For services to Children in Hull MBE Teresa Anne Carpenter Foster Carer, Kent County Council. For services to children and families MBE Patricia Carrington Principal and Head of Service, City College Peterborough. For services to further education and to the community in Peterborough MBE Victoria Jean Chalmers Founder and Lead Practitioner, Time 4 Children. For services to children’s emotional well-being MBE Kevin Christopher Clancy Lately Head of Construction, York College. For services to further education MBE Mary Teresa Clancy SENCO Co-ordinator, St Gregory’s Catholic Science College, Harrow. For services to special educational needs and Disabilities MBE Susan Clark Chair and Fundraiser, Pegasus Playscheme, Dover. For services to Children with Disabilities MBE Gillian Clipson Lately Deputy Chief Executive, Association of Colleges. For services to further education MBE Christopher John Collier Business Board Chair, NSPCC Peterborough. For services to children and young people MBE Ethna Philomena Cummins Lately Headteacher, Whitefield Infant School and Nursery, Lancashire. For services to education MBE Susan Janet Dare Lately Prinicipal and Chief Executive Officer, Northbrook College, Sussex. For services to education MBE Edward Davenport Foster Carer, Trafford Borough Council. For services to children and families MBE Jean Davenport Foster Carer, Trafford Borough Council. For services to children and families MBE James Andrew Dick Lately Chair of Trustees and Governors, Moor House School and College, Hurst Green, Surrey. For services to special educational needs and Disabilities MBE Janet Lorraine Down Chief Executive, SoLO Life Opportunities. For Services to children and young people with special needs in the West Midlands MBE Darrilyn Downes Teacher, Forest Oak School, Birmingham. For services to special educational needs and Disabilities MBE Sonia Mentena Evans Foster Carer, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. For services to children and families MBE Marion Jean Faust Chair of Governors, Brampton Manor Academy. For services to education MBE Harriet Anne Granville Lately History Teacher, Tudor Hall School, Banbury. For services to education MBE Barbara Elizabeth Hale Foster Carer, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council. For services to children and families MBE Martin Alan Hale Foster Carer, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council. For services to children and families MBE Paul Edward Harper Lately Team Leader, Social Work Reform, Children’s Services, Department for Education. For services to the Department for Education MBE Nigel Patrick Harris, JP Director Camden LGBT Forum. For services to the LGBT community MBE Claire Louise Harvey Senior Consultant, KPMG, GB Paralympian and Chair, Anti Homophobia and Transphobia Steering Group. For services to Diversity, Inclusion and Sport MBE Gareth Higgins Managing Director, KMF Precision Sheet Metal Ltd. For services to Apprenticeships MBE Pauline Anne Hill Foster Carer, Cheviots Children’s Disability Service, Enfield. For services to children and families MBE Roger Anthony Hill Foster Carer, Cheviots Children’s Disability Service, Enfield. For services to children and families MBE Meryl Homer Pre-School Manager, St Alphege Church of England Pre-School and Manager, Little Treasures and 2’s Group. For services to Early Years Education MBE Julie Jennings Lately Manager, of Children, Young People and Families, Royal National Institute of Blind People. For services to Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities MBE Veryan Steele Johnston Lately Executive Director, of Human Resources, Newcastle University. For services to higher education MBE Jennifer Jones Founder and Manager, Inspired Foundations. For services to adoption MBE Ernest Ian Lindley Foster Carer, Doncaster. For services to children and families MBE Christine Linnitt Lately Head, Holywell Primary School, Loughborough. Elected Member of the Headteacher Board for the East Midlands and Humber. For services to education MBE Christine Mary Meadows Foster Carer, Islington Council. For services to children and families MBE Andrew Moffat Assistant Headteacher, Parkfield Community School, Birmingham. For services to equality and diversity in education MBE Helen Elizabeth Myers Assistant Headteacher, The Ashcombe School, Dorking and Chair, London Branch, Association for Language Learning. For services to education MBE Elizabeth Anne O’Reilly Chair of Governors, Greenway Primary and Nursery School, Hertfordshire. For services to education. MBE Stephen Peter Oxlade Executive Principal, Reigate and Coulsdon College. For services to education MBE Amanda Jane Piper Foster Carer, Suffolk County Council. For services to Children and Familieis. MBE Amanda Jane Richardson Chief Executive, The PACE Centre, Aylesbury and Founder-Chairman, Action Cerebral Palsy. For services to special educational needs MBE Penny Roberts Founder and Chair of Governors, St Luke’s CofE School, Hampstead, London. For services to education MBE Jacqueline Rowbottom Foster Carer, Cheshire West and Chester Council. For services to children and families MBE Kevin Rowland Facilitator in Systems and Services, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council. For services to special educational needs and Disabilities MBE Dorina Isabella Scott Headteacher, Beavers Community Primary School, Hounslow. For services to education MBE Denise Shaw Lately Chair of Governors, Outwoods Primary School. For services to special educational needs and Disabilities MBE Peggy Sherwood Lately President, Jewish Gay and Lesbian Group. For services to the Jewish community MBE Amanda Jane Southwick Principal, Marchbank Free School, Darlington, County Durham. For services to education MBE Margaret Carol Stannard Volunteer, Oak Field School and Specialist Sports College, Nottingham. For services to special educational needs MBE Jonathan Francis James Taylor Lately Headmaster, Bootham School York. For services to the York Independent State School Partnership MBE Brian Wilfred Walker Headteacher, West Park School, Derby. For services to education MBE Louise Ann Walkiden Foster Carer, Hertfordshire County Council. For services to children and families MBE Timothy John Walkiden Foster Carer, Hertfordshire County Council. For services to children and families MBE Janet Watson Deputy Headteacher, Queen Elizabeth’s School, Wimborne, Dorset. For services to education MBE Andrew Dennis Webb School Secretary, London School of Economics. For services to higher education and to the community in East Anglia MBE Gail Eileen Webb Education Consultant and lately Head of Learning Improvement, Leeds Local Educational Authority. For services to education MBE Fiona Deborah Joyce Whimster Headteacher, The Lincoln St Giles Nursery School. For services to education and community cohesion in Lincolnshire MBE Kathleen Mary Whitmore-Payne Foster Carer, Cornwall Council. For services to children and families MBE Etheleen Mildred Wigley Founder, Children First Derby Charity. For services to vulnerable children in Derby MBE Jennifer Woods Associate Director (Widening Participation), Kingston University. For services to widening access to higher education read more

113 Service personnel have been granted state honours, and 50 civilians have also been honoured either for work in the Ministry of Defence or in other aspects of UK Defence.

The Defence personnel named in the Birthday Honours List for 2017 are listed below; the full list is available here

Amongst those who were granted state honours are the following:

Cpl Amber Rose Hollands, 25, received an MBE for her work as a Combat Medical Technician whilst deployed in Sierra Leone with 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards. She was the only female in a 58-strong Short Term Training Team that deployed to Sierra Leone to train the nation’s Army in peace support operations.

Working in stifling 36 degrees heat and 90% humidity, Amber was one of two medics who delivered medical training to over 130 Sierra Leonean troops. The Short Term Training Team also trained more than 850 troops in basic military skills.

Amber said:

I am very proud to receive this honour. Communication was a challenge in Sierra Leone because some of the troops found it difficult to understand my accent. I had to adapt and slow down my speech. I also asked two of the Sierra Leonean medics to translate.

Col Mike Butterwick, whose work with the British Muslim community during his time as deputy Commander of 4th Infantry Brigade based at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire has seen him awarded a CBE, said being told the news left him in “total shock” and “slightly embarrassed”.

He said:

I am completely overwhelmed by the award, but it reflects the energy the whole of the 4 Brigade team put into making a difference in this vital area. What we tried to do was change the perceptions of the military in Muslim communities we are working in.

I am humbled by this award. This is the start of what I hope will continue for many years to come.

Flt Sgt Mark Elliman received an MBE for his role as Acting Warrant Officer Fuels and Lubricants at RAF Akrotiri, supporting Op SHADER and the successful running of the station.

He said:

I am humbled, grateful and overjoyed to receive the MBE. My family will be so proud. I work with a fantastic team who have supported me with professionalism, honesty and pure hard work.

My time working at RAF Akrotiri as part of Joint Forces Command has been challenging but exciting due to the serviceability and resilience of fixed assets. Contingency and forward planning has been at the forefront of delivering aviation fuel without compromising output.

Jonathan Lyle, Chief Executive of Dstl, has been made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in recognition of his contribution to Defence science and engineering over the past 41 years.

He said:

I have had the priviledge to work with so many talented and committed people. I am deeply honoured to have been recognised with the CB and really do feel this is a reflection of a combined team effort across the lab.

Royal Navy Awards

PROMOTIONS IN AND APPOINTMENTS TO THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MOST HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH

As Knight Commander

Vice Admiral Simon Robert LISTER, CB, OBE

As Companions

Surgeon Vice Admiral Alasdair James WALKER, OBE, QHS

Rear Admiral Simon Paul WILLIAMS, CVO

PROMOTIONS IN AND APPOINTMENTS TO THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MOST EXCELLENT ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

As Commanders Rear Admiral Timothy Miles LOWE, QCVS

Rear Admiral John Robert Hamilton CLINK, OBE

Brigadier Richard Anthony Winchcombe SPENCER, OBE As Officers Commodore Richard Mark ALLEN

Captain Mark John CAMERON

Colonel Michael John TANNER, QCVS

Commander James WYPER

As Members

Warrant Officer 1 Logistician (Catering Services) Wayne BURBURY

Lieutenant Commander Simon James CHURCH

Warrant Officer 1 Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering) Iain CUNNINGHAM

Chief Petty Officer Air Engineering Technican (Avionics) Andrew Smyth FLEMING

Lieutenant Deborah Daphne HARMER

Leading Logistician (Writer) Claire HUGHES

Lieutenant Commander (Acting Commander) James Alistair Delange KIRKWOOD

Commander Robert Graeme SPENCE

Commander Stephen Michael THOMAS

Commander Michael Leslie WOOD

QUEEN’S VOLUNTEER RESERVE MEDAL

Sergeant David HOLMAN

ARMY AWARDS

PROMOTIONS IN AND APPOINTMENTS TO THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MOST HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH

As Companions

Major General Mark Jarvis GAUNT

Major General John Robert PATTERSON

PROMOTIONS IN AND APPOINTMENTS TO THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MOST EXCELLENT ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

As Commanders

Colonel Michael Robert BUTTERWICK

Colonel William Pemble Owen ENGLISH

Brigadier Colin Thomas McCLEAN, MBE

Brigadier Tom Richardson COPINGER-SYMES, OBE

Major General Ralph William WOODDISSE, MBE, MC

As Officers

Lieutenant Colonel Hamish George Gordon CORMACK, MBE, The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment

Lieutenant Colonel Christopher David DAVIES, MBE, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment

Lieutenant Colonel Jamie Ian HARTLEY, The Rifles

Colonel Thomas Jonathan MURRAY

Colonel Andrew Keith ROBINSON

Colonel Christopher John Strathern ROSE

Colonel Khashayar Dominic SHARIFI

Lieutenant Colonel Jason SHEFFIELD, Royal Tank Regiment

Colonel Jonathan Roderick Henry TIMMIS

Acting Colonel Richard George WALKER, Corps of Royal Engineers

As Members

Major Levi Vincent ASHLEY, The Royal Logistic Corps

Major John Mark BARRY, The Rifles

Major Richard Allan BELL, Royal Corps of Signals

Major Denis BURTON, The Royal Welsh, Army Reserve

Major Kevin Charles CAMMACK, Royal Regiment of Artillery

Major David CAMPEY, Corps of Royal Engineers

Colonel Frances Elizabeth CASTLE, ADC

Sergeant Arun Lewis COFAX, Corps of Royal Engineers

Lieutenant Colonel Dominic Martin Lyall COOPER, The Royal Logistic Corps

Major Richard John CRANE, The Royal Logistic Corps

Captain Anthony Angelo DAVIES, Corps of Royal Engineers

Warrant Officer Class 2 Marc David ELLIOTT, Corps of Royal Engineers

Warrant Officer Class 1 Gavin Arran EMMERSON, The Royal Logistic Corps

Major Simon William EVERETT, The Royal Irish Regiment

Lieutenant Colonel Alison Helen FALCON, The Royal Logistic Corps, Army Reserve

Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Mark GEE, Royal Regiment of Artillery

Major Prembahadur GURUNG, The Royal Gurkha Rifles

Captain Andrew HAINES, Royal Regiment of Artillery, Army Reserve

Acting Major Tobias Robin Sanford HARRIS, The Parachute Regiment

Sergeant Andrew Craig HARRISON, Corps of Royal Engineers

Major William Derek HODGKINSON, The King’s Royal Hussars

Corporal Amber Rose HOLLANDS, Royal Army Medical Corps

Colonel Stephanie Lotte Eleanor Louise JACKMAN, TD, Army Reserve, The Royal Logistic Corps

Acting Lieutenant Colonel Ami JONES, Royal Army Medical Corps, Army Reserve

Acting Lieutenant Colonel Norman Owen JONES, ARRC, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, Army Reserve

Major Pauline MURRAY-KNIGHT, Adjutant General’s Corps (Staff and Personnel Support Branch)

Acting Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Thomas LAMB, Combined Cadet Force

Lieutenant Colonel Catherine Charlotte Anne LIVINGSTONE, Royal Army Medical Corps, Army Reserve

Major Paul LOGIE, Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Captain James William LYONS, Army Air Corps

Major David Robert MACKLIN, The Rifles

Warrant Officer Class 1 Iain Crichton MARTIN, The Royal Logistic Corps

Warrant Officer Class 2 Rolf Alan MASON, Royal Regiment of Artillery

Corporal Jessica Layla MASTERMAN, The Royal Logistic Corps

Lance Corporal Rossa Dominick McPHILLIPS, Intelligence Corps, Army Reserve

Colour Sergeant David Malcolm MILLS, Irish Guards

Captain Ian David STOKES, Royal Regiment of Artillery

Warrant Officer Class 2 Karen Ann STYLES, Adjutant General’s Corps (Staff and Personnel Support Branch)

Major Fergus Keegan SULLIVAN, Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Major William John TOWER, Coldstream Guards

Acting Major Richard Simon WOOD, The Parachute Regiment

Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Robert Edward WOOLGAR, The Royal Lancers

ROYAL RED CROSS

As an Ordinary Associate of the Royal Red Cross, Second Class

Major Jennifer Ann BUCK, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps

Major Rosemary GODFREY, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, Army Reserve

QUEEN’S VOLUNTEER RESERVES MEDAL

Major Paul Harry JACKSON, General List, Army Reserve

Staff Sergeant Hayley Elizabeth JUST, Corps of Royal Engineers, Army Reserve

Colonel Mark Christopher SHERIDAN

Staff Sergeant Careen Gillian THORN, The Royal Logistic Corps, Army Reserve

ROYAL AIR FORCE AWARDS

PROMOTIONS IN AND APPOINTMENTS TO THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MOST HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH

As Companions

Air Vice-Marshal Malcolm Andrew John BRECHT, CBE

Air Vice-Marshal Edward Jackson STRINGER, CBE

PROMOTIONS IN AND APPOINTMENTS TO THE MILITARY DIVISION

OF THE MOST EXCELLENT ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

As Commanders

Group Captain Stephen Alec BENTLEY

Air Commodore Dawn Allison MCCAFFERTY

As Officers

Wing Commander Gareth John BRYANT

Wing Commander Mark Thomas DUNLOP

Wing Commander James Alexander FREEBOROUGH

Wing Commander Andrew MASSIE

Wing Commander Elizabeth Joan NICHOLL

Wing Commander Michael John Edward SUTTON

As Members

Warrant Officer Anthony Joseph BARKER

Squadron Leader Darren BASSETT

Warrant Officer Alan Roy BUTTERFILL

Wing Commander Davis Charles COX, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Flight Sergeant Mark James ELLIMAN

Sergeant Alan Albert FENNEY

Sergeant Matthew Ian FOSTER

Squadron Leader Adrian MORRIS

Warrant Officer Michael George MORRIS

Squadron Leader Hugh John Warr NICHOLS

Flight Lieutenant Derek Vincent OLDHAM, Royal Auxiliary Air Force

Warrant Officer Adrian Mark PATON

Warrant Officer Michelle SMITH

ROYAL RED CROSS

As an Ordinary Associate of the Royal Red Cross, Second Class

Corporal Clare Louise HARVEY

Flight Lieutenant Laura Jane HODSON

QUEEN’S VOLUNTEER RESERVES MEDAL

Sergeant Philip Baden BOWER, Royal Auxiliary Air Force

Senior Aircraftman Shane Victor STANIFORTH, Royal Auxiliary Air Force

CIVILIAN RECIPIENTS

COMPANION, ORDER OF THE BATH (CB)

Jonathan Henry LYLE, For services to Defence

COMMANDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE (CBE)

Alan Frank SMITH, For voluntary service to RAF personnel

OFFICERS, ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE (OBE)

William John CHRISPIN, For services to Defence acquisition and to military capability

Maj Gen Patrick Anthony John CORDINGLEY, For voluntary service

John Sebastian COX, For services to the Royal Air Force and aviation heritage

Michael GOODHAND, For services to Disaster Relief

Dr Deborah Katherine GOODWIN, For services in support of Armed Forces staff education

Ms Carmel Jane GRANT, For services to Army reform

Dr Julie Patricia GREEVES, For services to military operational effectiveness

Philip HORROCKS, For services to Defence

Dr Cheryll Denise PITT, For services to aviation safety

Paul John RUSSELL, For services to Defence

Rakesh SHARMA, For services to defence capability

Richard THOMASON, For services to Defence

Mrs Melanie Dawn WATERS, For services to ex-Service personnel

MEMBERS, ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE (MBE)

Mrs Saeeda ALI, For services to Defence

Andrew Donald BALLANTYNE, For services to Defence

Lt Colonel Robert Henry Lynn BLOMFIELD TD, For services to the Reserves and Cadets

Peter Alan BLYTH, For services to the Reserve Forces & Cadets on Tyneside

Patrick Joseph CONWAY, For services to industrial relations and the community in Yeovil, Somerset

Christopher DAVIES, For services to drug awareness in the Armed Forces

Captain (Rtd) Gaubahadur GURUNG, For services in support of Service personnel

Mohamed Amin ISSA, For services to the Defence Centre for Languages & Culture

David McALLISTER, For voluntary service to Service personnel

Frederick MILLES, For services to Defence

Mrs Irene MILNE, For services in support of military operations

Miss Nicola Ann MURDOCH, For services to Armed Forces personnel and their families

Philip NEAME, For voluntary service to Reserve Forces and Cadets

Mrs Angela Gwen O’SULLIVAN, For voluntary service to First Aid

Nicholas Mark SALES, For services to Defence

Richard SALMON, For services to Defence

Grahame SHEPHERD, For voluntary service to the children of military personnel

Mrs Dawn WALKER, For services to Defence

Colonel Michael Robert Lorne WARD, For voluntary service to veterans

THE BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL (BEM)

Mrs Carol Margaret BRATTY, For voluntary service to ex-Service personnel personnel

Mrs Eileen Fiona BUCHAN, For voluntary service to young people

Mrs Carol Margaret CHAPMAN, For voluntary service to St John Ambulance

Mrs Helen CHAPMAN, For services to Defence

Dean FAULKNER, For voluntary service to St John Ambulance

Barry Anthony FURNESS, For voluntary service to ex-Service personnel

Raymond GRIFFITHS, For voluntary service to ex-Service personnel

Mrs Marie HAWTHORNE, For voluntary service to the Army Cadet Force

Dr Samantha Georgina HEALY, For services to apprenticeship and graduate programmes in the Defence Industry

Ronald William Godfrey JONES, For voluntary service to ex-Service personnel and their families

Jacqueline LONGDEN, For services to veterans

Mrs Mary McGOWAN, For voluntary service to First Aid in Aberdeen

Mrs Barbara Liddle MORTIMER, For voluntary service to ex-Service personnel

Mrs Trudi SHAW, For services to Defence

Mrs Teresa Maria SMITH, For voluntary service to the Sea Cadet Corps

Miss Marie TAYLOR, For services to veterans and the community in York

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The award recognises Natasha’s incredible personal commitment to preserving the memory of the Holocaust for future generations, following her work to record the testimony of more than 100 British Holocaust survivors and Bergen Belsen liberators as part of the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation’s major national project.

Over a period of 15 months and on an entirely pro-bono basis, Natasha conducted 112 testimony interviews. The majority of these moving personal stories were recorded for the first time. The invaluable body of testimonies created by Natasha cover a wide range of experiences of Nazi persecution, including camp survivors, children in hiding, refugees who escaped to Britain – some of whom then served with the British Army – and children who arrived in Britain on the Kindertransport, an organised rescue effort for Jewish children in Germany and Nazi-occupied countries before the outbreak of war. The collection also includes Charedi survivors, a Roma survivor and recordings of British soldiers involved in the liberation and relief of Bergen Belsen Concentration Camp.

Natasha’s work gave all these people the chance to record their history, preserving it so that their voices can be used to educate future generations about the lessons of the Holocaust and to challenge them to think about their own role in fighting hatred and prejudice in all its forms. The testimonies will have a permanent home in the new education centre that will accompany the National Memorial which is to be built next to Parliament in Westminster.

Natasha Kaplinsky said:

“Meeting the survivors and their families has been an incredible privilege. Their testimonies detail humanity’s darkest hour. They are also stories of incredible strength, compassion, inspiration and forgiveness.

“Through their testimony they offer up challenges for us all to consider about our world and the way we treat each other, and to remind us of the constant need to stand up against hatred and prejudice in all its forms.”

Natasha’s empathetic, sensitive and personal style ensured that survivors felt comfortable sharing their experiences and the impact they had on their lives. Reflecting on their interview, one survivor commented:

“You handled me and my testimony with great sensitivity, which made it easier for me to talk about the painful events in my life. I cannot say I enjoyed the interview as it brought back so many painful memories, but at the end I was pleased to have done it… Future generations must know what happened.”

The national project began after an independent, cross-party commission found there was an urgent need to record and preserve further testimony of British survivors and liberators. It has been led by the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation.

Sir Peter Bazalgette, chair of the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation, said:

“Natasha has undertaken an extraordinary project, single-handedly interviewing 112 British Holocaust survivors and liberators. Using her expertise, professionalism and compassionate approach, she was able to draw out stories sympathetically and sensitively, supporting survivors to recount their testimony.

“Natasha has helped to create an indelible record of the Holocaust, curating a particularly British story for future generations to learn from. This is something we can all be grateful for.”

The testimonies will be made available online so that they can be explored by individuals and educational projects around the UK. This new digital resource will add to the existing testimony available and form part of a rich network of recorded testimonies to aid remembrance and education.

Watch an example of excerpts from the testimonies.

About Natasha Kaplinsky

Natasha Kaplinsky is one of the UK’s leading broadcasters having worked for Sky News, BBC and ITV. Natasha is patron of a number of charities and an Ambassador for Save The Children. In 2014 she became a member of the Prime Minister’s Holocaust Commission and in 2015 she was appointed by the Prime Minister to the board of the United Kingdom Holocaust Memorial Foundation.

About the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation

The UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation (UKHMF) was created to implement the recommendations of the Prime Minister’s Holocaust Commission report in 2015, ensuring that the memory of the Holocaust and its lessons are preserved and remain current for future generations. Alongside the programme to record and preserve the testimony of Holocaust survivors, UKHMF is leading the creation of a new national Holocaust Memorial and accompanying education centre that will explain the facts of the Holocaust and challenge visitors to explore its lessons for society today. UKHMF has cross-party support and is chaired by Sir Peter Bazalgette.

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