King's New Year Honours for Staffordshire

His Majesty King Charles III has recognised Staffordshire residents in the New Year's Honours for their contribution to society.

A medical researcher, entrepreneur and community stalwarts are among the Staffordshire residents recognised in His Majesty the King’s first Honours List.

Residents have been honoured with CBEs, MBEs and BEM for their services to older people, communities and for work during and since the pandemic.

Among those recognised in the New Year’s honours are Professor Janet Lord, of Barton under Needwood, who is made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), for her contribution to research aimed at understanding why ageing people lose muscle, bone and cartilage.

Also recognised are three long-standing servants of their local communities: 

• Mike Allen has been chairman of Haughton Parish Council for more than 20 years and was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). He has also served on the executive committee of the Staffordshire Parish Council Association since 2004, as well as being a trustee of Community Link Staffordshire since 2008.
• Described as a ‘community champion’ Gordon Dale was made a Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for his many years of service in Edingale for the parish council, Holy Trinity church, village hall and the Garden Guild.
• Also made a BEM is Arthur Renshaw for his service of more than 40 years on Draycott in the Clay Parish Council and being a regular supporter of local activities and volunteer at St Augustine’s First School.

Alan White, Leader of Staffordshire County Council, said:

While publication of His Majesty’s first Honours List may bring a sense of the ‘new’, I feel a great sense of continuity when I read about the work, commitment and achievements of those recognised.

Staffordshire’s communities are built upon the efforts and spirit of their residents and I am always humbled by the contribution that people make, whether it is displaying the highest levels of professional expertise, or by volunteering to help make life better for those around them.”

Mr Ian Dudson CBE, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire, said:

This first honours list in the name of His Majesty King Charles III is notable for the fact that it reflects the legacy of Her late Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee themes of young people, environmentalism and sustained public service.

These themes are evident in the contributions of those Staffordshire residents honoured today.

I send my warmest congratulations to them and couple thanks to everyone in the county for their contributions to local communities and in support of our Monarchy.”

Also recognised in His Majesty’s Honours were Keele University graduate Elliott Lancaster, who was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to youth empowerment and sustainability for his work across a range of projects; as well as being Director of Utter Rubbish Ltd, he is a trustee of Spirit of Peace, the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, and the Wolfpack Project.

Residents of Staffordshire who have received an honour include:

• CBE, for Prof Janet Mary Lord, of Barton under Needwood, Professor of Immune Cell Biology and Director of the MRC-Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research at the University of Birmingham, for services to older people;
• CBE, for Mr Jatinder Kumar Sharma OBE, of Perton, Principal of Walsall College, for services to Further Education;
• MBE, for Mr Michael John Allen, of Haughton, Chairman of Haughton Parish Council, for services to the community in Staffordshire;
• MBE, for Mrs Angela Mary Ham, of Lichfield, lately the head of business support services at the National Memorial Arboretum, for services to national commemoration;
• MBE, for Dr Atiya Kamal, of Burton upon Trent, Health Psychologist and Senior Lecturer at the School of Social Sciences at Birmingham City University, for services to health psychology during Covid-19;
• MBE, for Mr Elliott Albert Lancaster, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Director of Utter Rubbish, for services to youth empowerment and sustainability in Staffordshire;
• BEM, for Mrs Sarah Jane Coffey, of Lichfield, executive assistant to the CEO of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, for services to sport;
• BEM, for Mr Albert Gordon John Dale, of Edingale, for his services to the community in Edingale;
• BEM, for Mr Arthur Leonard Renshaw, of Marchington, 40 years a member of the local parish council, for services to the community in Draycott in the Clay.

Also honoured, with an MBE, was Mrs Catherine May Nash, of Ashbourne, recently the manager of the vaccination centre at Burton’s Pirelli Stadium, for services to the community of East Staffordshire.