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Meet Kent’s awe-inspiring heroes named in the King’s Birthday Honours
Dozens of exceptional people in Kent have been recognised by King Charles in his Birthday Honours list for their tireless efforts which transform the lives of people in their communities and beyond.
The first King’s birthday honours recognise outstanding contributions of people across the country, with a renewed focus on those who have had a profoundly positive impact on how society faces up to the most challenging issues of the modern era.
TV presenter Davina McCall, Folkestone and Hythe MP Damian Collins MP and Canterbury Christ Church University Vice-Chancellor Professor Rama Thirunamachandran are among those from the county who have been honoured. Davina was made a MBE for services to broadcasting while Mr Collins, who has been a Conservative MP for 13 years, was awarded an OBE for political and public service. Prof Thirunamachandran was awarded an OBE for services to Higher Education.
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The energy and enthusiasm all these special people put into their respective fields and the positive impact they have was highlighted in glowing submissions to the King’s office by others who know the work they do. See below for the full list of all the amazing people from Kent who have received honours.
KentLive spoke to three community heroes who were named in the honours. Two have been appointed an MBE and one has been awarded a BEM. The Honours list is published each year and marks the extraordinary contributions and service of people across the UK. Recognition can be gained for charitable work, services to education, performance and the community.
MBE
Aaron Hearne MBE from Maidstone. Kent Fundraiser, Childline. For services to Children
Aaron, 34, set up The Liam Charity Tribute Fund in 2012 in memory of his 14-year-old brother Liam who took his own life. Childline is the full beneficiary and to date has received more than £300,000, enabling at least 75,000 children to be supported.
During the past 10 years, Aaron has used his annual leave and free time to fundraise and educate children on the importance of sharing their feelings and on suicide prevention. His original goal of £10,000 was achieved by learning to swim so he could complete the 2012 Virgin London Triathlon.
Since then, he has taken part in similar events, four marathons, two long distance cycling events, three half marathons, one swim and one tower run, while also hosting more than 50 of his own events and inspiring others to do the same.
After the 2020 London Marathon was cancelled, he continued to raise awareness via BBC, Sky news and social media by completing a personal route, dedicating Childline statistics to each mile. He organised The Special One Cup, an annual community football tournament, alongside live entertainment and other activities.
He told KentLive: “For me, it’s easy to find the time and space as it’s something I love doing for the person I love so much. It allows me to have special moments with Liam in a different way whilst creating a positive focus on the person he was and not how left.
“Knowing that his legacy gives other children hope for a better tomorrow through Childline is something I am incredibly proud of. It is always humbling to be recognised for my part in remembering my brother Liam and the impact his legacy has had on so many lives – it’s never really expected as it’s not a driver for me.
“But in the same breath, it’s an opportunity to shine a light on his tribute fund, reflect and thank all those who opened their hearts to him and contributed to our journey through The Liam Charity, who equally can take credit for making the world a better place. “
The submission also said Aaron invited children’s homes from the area and gave free tickets to the local schools. Inspiring the community to work together to raise more than £30,000 in five years. In 2017, with the support of his local MP, Tom Brake, he hosted a dinner at the House of Commons, followed by hosting The Sunset Ball for 220 guests.
He also continued to organise smaller community fundraisers, on average once a month, such as dart nights, comedy events, street music, car boot sales, and spinathons.
His willingness to create a variety of events, as well as to inspire others to take part in their own, has played a big part in the success of his fundraising, said the submission. His passion for supporting young people led him to leave his career as an accountant and pursue a new career working for the NSPCC.
He has bravely shared his experiences at conferences and training sessions and received enormous praise for his talks on grief and the huge impact it can have. During the two two years working at the NSPCC, he continued to use his spare time to fundraise and inspire others in his brother’s honour and has maintained this commitment since moving onto work for other charities.
During the pandemic he qualified as an official Childline counsellor. He self-funded and passed a Youth Mental Health Awareness qualification and now regularly volunteers, whilst maintaining a job, and continuing to fundraise for Childline.
“The NSPCC believe he is a once in a lifetime volunteer who has given his time in every capacity he can,” said the submission.
Thomas Coyd MBE from Gillingham. Kent Coach, England Wheelchair Rugby League Team. For services to Wheelchair Rugby League
Tom, 27, was appointed head coach for the England squad in early 2020, having previously held the position as assistant coach from 2018. He played the running game in Kent for the community club Medway Dragons, and also coaches for London Roosters, a charity wheelchair Rugby League club in Kent.
Tom’s younger brother Joe is a key member of England’s World Cup winning squad, and his father, Martin Coyd MBE has also been involved in the development of Wheelchair Rugby League in England.
He is younger than a number of players but is highly regarded by the team, combines his role with a full-time job in sales. The England Rugby League Wheelchair won the Rugby League World Cup 2021, which was postponed to 2022 due to the pandemic.
This is the second time England have won the tournament, the first was in 2013. This was the first Rugby League World Cup where the wheelchair tournament was played simultaneously with the men’s and women’s tournament. All players received equal participation fees and prize money across all three tournaments.
Tom told KentLive: “Coaching my country at this young age, it is a total privilege. There is a lot of pressure that comes with leading a team at the highest level in the sport, but it is the most exciting thing I have ever done and that is because of the pressure.
“I am so grateful for the opportunity to have come relatively early in my coaching career. About half of the players on the Team are the same age or older than me, so I have had to work really hard to earn their trust and respect.”
“I was blown away by the honour when the letter from the Cabinet Office arrived. None of the work we do is for individual honours so the thought hadn’t crossed my mind.
“What I am most pleased about is that our inclusive game of Wheelchair Rugby League is now gaining recognition alongside the traditional sports. I will do whatever I can to promote our sport because I believe it is really special.”
The England Wheelchair team matches were aired live on the BBC and the final between England and France was viewed by a peak audience of 1.3m people, with an additional 4,500 spectators – a world record attendance for a wheelchair rugby league match.
The England team’s performance was “consistently excellent” said the submission, which also said: “Anecdotally, a number of wheelchair rugby league clubs have seen high numbers of new joiners as a result of the England team’s performance in the tournament, doubled participation since last year and only halfway through the season”.
BEM
Gary Howes BEM from Southborough. Byng Hall Table Tennis Club. For services to table tennis, to young people and to the community in Tunbridge Wells.
Gary, 68, has been running a table tennis club for children and adults for the past 30 years. During this time, alongside a full-time job, he has gained official coaching qualifications.
He receives no pay for this work and gives up three evenings a week to train and coach the club members, who range from aged eight to adults. He supports club members at tournaments as well as arranging events for them to participate in.
By running the club voluntarily, Gary can ensure costs are kept low, making the sport more accessible to under privileged and low-income families. The club has provided a positive way of life for its members over the years, creating a safe social place for young people to meet, play the sport, keep fit and healthy, and make lifelong friends.
Gary told KentLive: “In short I was completely stunned when I received the letter; I had no idea that I had been put forward for any award. As for what keeps me going, well I love what I do; I love the sport, both my kids, well adults now, gained a great deal from it as I did when I competed back in the day.
“So it followed on that putting back into the sport for what we all gained from it only seemed right. Once I had completed my coaching awards and saw how amazing it was with youngsters going from shy individuals into, in many cases, becoming competent players at whatever level they chose, I was hooked and thought it to be my calling so to speak.”
Many of the adult members started off as children at the club and are now volunteers. For many years Gary also gave up a week every school summer holiday to run a residential training camp for the club players.
This gave intensive training for the players and provided a week of childcare for the parents of the younger players and a week of fun for them with their friends. In 2002, he was presented with an award from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council for long term voluntary commitment to the social development of young people within the borough.
Paralympic medal winner Will Bayley MBE started his table tennis career at this club aged 10, and spent six to seven years training there. The club was awarded the South East Club of the year in 2007 by the English Table Tennis Association.
Gary is still actively running the club at the age of 68 with the same enthusiasm he had in 1990 when he founded it.
Kent’s King’s Birthday Honours list in full
CBE
Rev Canon Nigel Mark Genders. Chief Education Officer, Church of England. For services to Education. (Sandwich, Kent)
Paul Noble Wilson Morrison. Director, Ukraine Humanitarian Taskforce and Refugee Resettlement and Asylum Support, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. For services to Refugees. (Orpington, Kent)
OBE
Nicholas Guy Baveystock DL. Director General and Secretary, Institution of Civil Engineers. For services to Engineering. (Ashford, Kent)
Damian Collins MP. Member of Parliament for Folkestone and Hythe. For Political and Public Service. (Canterbury, Kent)
Julie Harmsworth. Lately Deputy Chief Executive, Unlock, National Association of Ex-Offenders. For services to Ex-Offenders. (Chatham, Kent)
Lisa Juliet James. Community Outreach, Ukraine Humanitarian Taskforce, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. For services to the Ukrainian Community. (Dartford, Kent)
Gavin Marcus McKinnon. Chief Officer, Kent Special Constabulary. For services to Policing. (Tonbridge, Kent)
Robert David Sanders. Director of Digital Customer Services, Houses of Parliament. For services to Parliament and to the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. (Tunbridge Wells, Kent)
Sarah Louise Strangleman. Liaison Officer, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Ministry of Defence. For Public Service. (Kent)
Jane Susan Sweeney. Head of Programme Management, Delivery and Challenge, HM Treasury. For Public Service. (Erith, Kent)
Professor Rama Shankaran Thirunamachandran DL. Vice-Chancellor, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, Kent. For services to Higher Education. (London)
MBE
Lorna Lynn Canning. Senior Policy Adviser, Home Office. For Public Service. (Dartford, Kent)
Thomas Dillon Coyd. Coach, England Wheelchair Rugby League Team. For services to Wheelchair Rugby League. (Gillingham, Kent)
Jennifer Anne Cross JP. Lately Member, Mental Health and Care Standards Tribunals. For services to the Administration of Justice and to the community in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. (Tonbridge, Kent)
Dr Victoria Louise Harrington. Lately Assistant Chief Officer, Essex Police. For services to Policing. (Cranbrook, Kent)
Aaron Lee Hearne. Fundraiser, Childline. For services to Children. (Maidstone, Kent)
Kevin Hewlett. Managing Director and Registered Manager, Hale Place Care Homes Ltd. For services to People with Dementia. (Tonbridge, Kent)
Professor Francis John Hughes. Lately Professor of Periodontology, King’s College London. For services to Dentistry. (Bromley, Kent)
Dr Michael Olatunde Kehinde. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Champion, Environment Agency. For Public Service. (Swanscombe, Kent)
Sonia Maulson. General Manager (North), Southeastern Trains. For services to Rail Transport and to the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. (Dartford, Kent)
Davina Lucy Pascale McCall. For services to Broadcasting. (Tunbridge Wells, Kent)
Alan Stephen Noake. Assistant County Commissioner, Global Projects and Community Impact (Kent Scouts) and Deal, Walmer, Sandwich and District. For services to Young People in Kent. (Deal, Kent)
Peter Cairns O’Hara. Chief Executive, OLM Systems. For services to Social Care. (Westerham, Kent)
Nimisha Raja. Founder, Nim’s Fruit Crisps. For services to Small and Medium Enterprises. (Sittingbourne, Kent)
Gillian Anne Weaver. Co-Founder, Human Milk Foundation. For services to Charity and to Human Milk Banking. (Dover, Kent)
BEM
Victoria Golding. Wildlife Rehabilitator, Kent Wildlife Trust. For services to Education, to Charity and to Animal Welfare. (Sittingbourne, Kent)
Gary Raymond Howes. For services to Table Tennis, to Young People and to the community in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. (Tunbridge Wells, Kent)
Patricia Jeal. For services to the community in Higham, Kent. (Rochester, Kent)
Catherine Frances McCully. Trustee, Cobbes Meadow Group, Riding for the Disabled Association. For services to Charity and to People with Disabilities in Canterbury, Kent. (Canterbury, Kent)
Reginald Roy Pierce. Lately Chair, Business Radio Council, Federation of Communication Services. For services to Business and Radio Communications. (Longfield, Kent)
Judith Ann Richardson. Lifeboat Press Officer, Dungeness Lifeboat Station, Royal National Lifeboat Institution. For services to Maritime Safety. (Romney Marsh, Kent)
Mark Simpson. Lately Head of Public Enquiry Service, House of Lords. For services to Parliament. (Tonbridge, Kent)
Catherine Margaret Wynne. Volunteer International Technical Official, International Canoe Federation and European Canoe Association. For services to Sport. (Tonbridge, Kent)
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