THREE Romsey people have been honoured in the New Year's Honours list.
Christine Chisholm, 73, becomes an MBE for services to philanthropy and charitable causes.
In the early 1980s she got involved with the Across Trust, which provides pilgrimages to Lourdes and Rome for the sick and disabled.
Later she became a founder trustee of the Jumbulance Travel Trust. Her fundraising activities helped provide specialist vehicles for a facility that runs holidays for people with disabilities or life-limiting illnesses.
Janet Belinda Lefley, former community manager at the The Romsey School, also becomes an MBE for services to education.
In a statement the school said: "On behalf of everyone at The Romsey School and the Romsey Community Team, we would like to congratulate Jan on achieving this honour, it is thoroughly deserved. Jan who took retirement in the Summer of 2021 was the school’s community lead for many years and has been recognised for her work in the community, which included winning the national Community School of the Year Award in consecutive years.
"More recently she successfully led the community team who implemented the nationally-recognised Connect4Summer Programme. The programme helped over 3,000 families at almost 30 venues, by providing invaluable support during the Summer Holidays. Working closely with Park School in Havant, Romsey was the only school to be awarded this national project which has had an enormous impact on families in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. In addition, Jan has led on the setting up of Community Pantries as part of the Connect4communities initiative, including one in Duke’s Mill, Romsey.
Jonathan de Sausmarez, Executive Leader of Gateway Multi-Academy Trust, said: “Jan has devoted her life to helping others and everything she has done has been with a personal passion to give every child and family a fair start in life. There have been so many projects over the years and this award is a way for our country, county and community, to say a big thank you.”
Michael Charles Sutton receives a BEM for services to emergency response in Hampshire, particularly during Covid-19.
And Aaron Phipps, 38, of Totton, is also made an MBE after helping the British wheelchair rugby team to win gold at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
Speaking at the time he said: "I thought we could win a medal but to be here looking down at a gold one, that's beyond my wildest dreams."
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