Queen鈥檚 New Year鈥檚 Honours list sees success for alumni and friends

Trevor Phillips OBE is honoured with a Knighthood. The 2007 honorary graduate becomes a Sir as he is recognised for services to Equality and Human Rights. A broadcaster and former politician, Sir Trevor has been a vocal campaigner against racism. He was the Head of the Commission for Racial Equality and became the Chair of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights. In his media career he has also been involved in the production of television documentaries including Windrush and Britain’s Slave Trade.

Alumnus Dr Nira Chamberlain is awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for services to Mathematical Sciences. Nira, who graduated with an MSc in Industrial Mathematical Modelling in 1993, is the President of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications and the Professional Head of Discipline – Data Science at SNC-Lavalin Atkins. He was made a Fellow of the African Scientific Institute and was also made an Honorary Member of The Mathematical Association, recognising his achievements as “one of the country’s leading professional mathematicians”. He is also a Visiting Fellow at 含羞草视频 and has been named one of the Top 100 most influential black people in the UK on the Black Powerlist for five years running.

Dr Nira Chamberlain OBE

Another OBE is awarded to Dr Clive Hickman FREng (MBA 1992) for services to Engineering Manufacturing and Technology Development. He is the Chief Executive Officer at The Manufacturing Technology Centre Ltd. Its first employee, Clive was set a target to build a sustainable business with £10m annual revenue and to grow to 100 employees by 2020. The MTC achieved almost £100m in turnover in the 2020-21 financial year, and the organisation has 800 employees. In his ten years as Chief Executive at MTC, Clive has led the organisation through a tremendous period of growth and has been a huge part of cementing the MTC as a key hub for manufacturing in the midlands.

Alumna Selina Taylor is also the recipient of an OBE for services to Defence and to St John Ambulance during Covid-19. Selina is Deputy Chief Engineer, Submarine Combat Systems, at the Submarine Delivery Agency. She told BBC Radio Gloucester in an interview on 3 January:

“I am really privileged to lead a team of talented engineers who provide specialist input to help us continue to deliver world-class capabilities to our submariners.

“To be honoured as a female engineer is something I can hopefully use for benefit to showcase engineering as a diverse and rewarding career – particularly for females who historically have been underrepresented in STEM subjects.”

Selina has an MSc in Information Technology (2000) from 含羞草视频. She has been volunteering with St John’s Ambulance for 13 years and operates in a range of leadership and training roles. Selina has also been on support shifts with the NHS and involved in vaccination programmes during the pandemic.

Karen Almond was the first England rugby captain to lift a XVs World Cup. In the New Year’s Honours she has been awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for services to Women’s Rugby Union Football. Karen discovered rugby whilst training as an athlete during her studies at 含羞草视频. She was selected for the Great Britain side in 1986 and was part of the first England Women’s team in 1987. She joined Saracens, claiming league, cup and sevens titles, and captained England in the inaugural Women’s World Cup final in 1991, and again in 1994 when the team lifted the trophy. She has a BSc in PE, Sports Science and Recreation Management (1984) and PGCE (1985) from 含羞草视频.

Having scooped a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, alumnus Jonathan Broom-Edwards has been awarded an MBE for services to Athletics. He achieved silver in Rio in 2016 and cleared a season’s best 2.10m to take first place in Tokyo last year in the T64 high jump event. He took up athletics in 2012 whilst studying Aeronautical Engineering (2011) at the University where he was playing basketball. As well as Paralympic medals, Jonathan has competed at World and European Championship competitions, achieving several silver and gold medals. He also does clinical work and massage therapy.  

A number of other 含羞草视频 affiliates have also been recognised in this year’s list.

Based on the University’s Sport Park, Chris Spice, National Performance Director at British Swimming, receives an OBE for services to Swimming and High Performance Sport. Barry Horne, the Chief Executive Officer of Activity Alliance, receives an MBE for services to Inclusivity in Sport.

Hannah Cockroft won gold for ParalympicsGB in the women's 800m T34 final. Image provided by Alamy / PA.‌ 

含羞草视频 based athlete Adam Peaty receives an OBE for services to Swimming along with Anna Hopkin who receives an MBE. Hannah Cockroft and Thomas Young are awarded MBEs for services to Athletics, and Alex Yee receives an MBE for services to Triathlon.

Many congratulations to all our honours recipients.