Hampshire people recognised in Queen's Birthday Honours list

In Hampshire, some of those whose achievements and efforts have been rewarded include the man behind the goal line technology that has changed the face of Premier League football.

Dr Paul Martin Hawkins who lives at Shawford near Winchester and is the MD and chairman of Hampshire’s Hawk-Eye Innovations, formely based near Colden Common, was awarded the OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list announced on Saturday.

He was working at Roke Manor Research in the late 1990s when he developed the Hawke-Eye system for tracking cricket balls. It is now used in other sports including tennis and football.

Professor Martin Biddle, a world-renowned archaeologist, has been granted a CBE for his services to archaeology.

He led a number of digs in Winchester during the 1960s, 70s and 80s and, most recently was awarded a grant of £5,000 by Winchester City Council to help publish his findings.

The money will be used to help him complete three volumes of The Winchester Studies.

Prof Biddle, who lives in Oxford, said: “I think it’s a fantastic award and I’m very honoured. It’s not just my achievement though. This belongs to all the people I’ve had working with me over the years. It’s very much a recognition of the team effort.”

Gardeners’ World broadcaster Roy Lancaster has become a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to horticulture.

It is the third time the 77-year-old from Chandler’s Ford has been honoured. He was awarded the Victoria Medal of Honour in 1998 and an OBE in 1999.

Neil Hopkins who retired as principal of Peter Symonds College last July, has been awarded an OBE for services to education. When he started in 1993 the sixth-form college had 1,400 students, which has now almost tripled to around 3,500.

The father-of-three, from Whitchurch, said: “I’m very flattered to receive this honour, and grateful too for the tremendous support and help I have received over my years working in education, from family and colleagues.”

Mr Hopkins oversaw six major building projects, including a science centre, sports hall and learning resource centre.

Dr Robert Sykes, the head teacher at Thornden School in Chandler’s Ford, has been appointed Commander of the British Empire (CBE).

Tommy Geddes, the ombudsman at Winchester University, and Teresa Sandison, its director of lifelong learning and staff development, were both awarded MBEs for services to Higher Education.

Mr Geddes said: “I feel a great of appreciation for my colleague who put this application together. It takes a long time to do so it’s much appreciated. I look back at what the university was when I first started in 1993 and over the last 20 years it’s been transformed and that’s down to all the hard work that everyone has put in.”

Derek Sweetenham, chairman of the Alresford and district branch for the RAF Association, was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the community and the Royal Air Forces Association.

“I’m absolute delighted and somewhat shocked by it to be honest,” he said. “Someone’s shining down on me! I’ve been involved with various things for a long, long time and I got wind of it a while ago when I had a letter from the awards people and wasn’t too sure what was going to happen. I’d like to thank those who nominated me sincerely for submitting the necessary for putting me in this position. I’m thrilled.”

After spending six years as the chairman of the board of trustees for veteran support charity Combat Stress, Major General Archibald Peter Currie has been awarded a CBE for voluntary service to veterans with mental health problems.

He spent the past nine years as chief executive of Royal Hospital Chelsea, and now the 65-year-old is set to move back to Winchester, his home city.

He said: “It sounds a bit strange but I feel quite humbled because it’s a cause for which I felt passionately.

“I had a wonderful team of people working for me, and they are the people who made it all work, so I feel very humbled.”

Professor Catherine Law, from Romsey was made a CBE for services to public health.

She is head of the new Population, Policy and Practice programme at the University College London Institute of Child Health and Professor of Public Health and Epidemiology in the centre.

Professor Law, who has lived in Hampshire for 30 years, said: “As a public health doctor I am very concerned about the health of our nation’s children.

“As a scientist, I believe that research is a powerful tool to promote population health and tackle the unfairness of health inequalities, and I hope this award recognises the importance of this science.

“I am privileged to work with wonderful colleagues at UCL Institute of Child Health and elsewhere.”

Two Hampshire men serving at the Ministry of Defence have received OBEs.

MoD principal scientist Sean Murphy was honoured for his services to military operational capability, while MOD RN Base Services manager Commander David Hilton has been commended for services to the Royal Navy.