24 Buckinghamshire residents named in Queen's New Year Honours list

A former Thames Valley Police Chief Constable, a pop star from Ford, and a community leader from Winslow are among 24 from Buckinghamshire who have been named in the Queen’s New Year Honours.
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The list also includes Buckinghamshire celebrities, among them politician Iain Duncan-Smith, long-serving Imam Arif Hussain, and television sports presenter Gabby Logan.

Mr Duncan's Smith's award has been viewed by some as controversial, with critics citing what they see as damaging changes to the benefits system on his watch, as a reason why he should have been overlooked.

But it was John Bercow, former Speaker of the House of Commons and former MP for Buckingham who has actually been overlooked this year, failing to secure a peerage unlike other outgoing Speakers.

Francis Habgood, a retired Chief Constable from Aylesbury, is to be knighted for services to policingFrancis Habgood, a retired Chief Constable from Aylesbury, is to be knighted for services to policing
Francis Habgood, a retired Chief Constable from Aylesbury, is to be knighted for services to policing

Former Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Francis Habgood, has been knighted for his services to policing, and now serves the county as the independent chairman of Buckinghamshire Safeguarding Children Board (BSCB) and the Buckinghamshire Safeguarding Adults Board (BSAB).

Sir Francis, whose role is to ensure all local services work together well to promote and safeguard the welfare of Buckinghamshire’s children and adults, retired from the police force after 32 years.

Winslow community leader Veronica Corben has been awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the town’s community.

Ms Corben founded The Winslow Big Society Group (WBSG) in 2012 to identify and fill gaps in the provision of services, with the primary aim of combating loneliness.

Imam Arif Hussain from Chesham is to receive an MBE for services to the Muslim community in the UK and abroadImam Arif Hussain from Chesham is to receive an MBE for services to the Muslim community in the UK and abroad
Imam Arif Hussain from Chesham is to receive an MBE for services to the Muslim community in the UK and abroad

The charity promotes social inclusion at all age groups and there are now more than 100 volunteers serving on a continually rising number of projects, including a community car scheme and a telephone befriending service.

In 2014, she became Chairman of Aylesbury Vale Child Contact Centre which was about to close.

Tony Hadley, who lives in Ford, rose to fame with 80s pop legends Spandau Ballet. He is a familiar face at community events in the Vale. But it is his selfless charity work, with the Shooting Star Chase Children's Hospice, for which he receives the MBE.

Imam Arif Hussain (60) has also been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the Muslim community in the UK and abroad during the past 35 years.

Tony Hadley, from the band Spandau Ballet, received an MBE for charitable services to Shooting Star Chase Children's Hospice CareTony Hadley, from the band Spandau Ballet, received an MBE for charitable services to Shooting Star Chase Children's Hospice Care
Tony Hadley, from the band Spandau Ballet, received an MBE for charitable services to Shooting Star Chase Children's Hospice Care

Mr Hussain, whose work focuses on peace, tolerance and acceptance of one another, became the youngest Imam in the UK at the age of 25 and is the only Imam in the country to have given this length of service to the faith.

Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, said: “We have such a rich and diverse county and there are so many unsung heroes doing wonderful things for the good of their community, often without any expectation of reward or recognition. The New Year’s Honours List reflects this and I have sent letters of congratulations to each of them.”

Potential nominees could be involved in charitable or voluntary activity, or be doing innovative work that makes a significant difference in the community. Nominating for a UK national honour is fairly simple using the Government's nomination website: www.gov.uk/honours/nominate-someone-in-the-uk

The complete list of Buckinghamshire residents in the New Year Honours includes:

Knighthood

Francis Habgood (Aylesbury), retired Chief Constable, for services to policing;

Rt Hon Iain Duncan-Smith (Milton Keynes), MP for Chingford and Woodford Green, for political and public service.

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Jonson Cox (Milton Keynes), Chairman Ofwat, for services to the water industry;

Damian Parmenter (Amersham), Chief of Staff to Secretary of State for Defence, for services to defence.

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Timothy Fallowfield (Beaconsfield), Director, Sainsbury's and Chairman, Disability Confident Business Leaders Group, for services to disability awareness.

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Sally Preston (Beaconsfield), Founder and Managing Director, Kiddylicious, for services to entrepreneurship;

Nichola Connell (Burnham), Nutrition Technical Director, Eleanor Crook Foundation, for services to emergency nutrition crises abroad;

Kay Maddieson (Princes Risborough), Northern Ireland Office, for public service in Northern Ireland;

Yolande Stanley (Stoke Poges), for service to young people in the hospitality industry;

Lisa Dancer Denham), Adult Education Quality Manager, for services to adult learners with mental health issues in Hillingdon;

Nadiya Hussain (Milton Keynes), for services to broadcasting and the culinary arts;

Barry Middleton (Marlow), for services to hockey;

Anthony Hadley (Aylesbury), for charitable services to Shooting Star Chase Children's Hospice Care;

Anthony Mallin (Skirmett), for services to young people through sport;

Christopher Bridgman (Milton Keynes), for services to the community in Wolverton and Milton Keynes;

Arif Hussain (Chesham), for services to the Muslim community in the UK and abroad;

Brian Gardner (Aylesbury), lately member, British Association of Spinal Cord Injury Specialists, for services to people affected by spinal cord injuries;

Gabrielle Logan (Penn), for services to sports broadcasting and the promotion of women in sport;

John Chapman (Marlow), for services to the community in Marlow.

British Empire Medal

Theratil Ouseph (Milton Keynes), for services to badminton in Great Britain and the promotion of sport within the British Asian community;

Valerie Symon (Woburn Sands), volunteer, Cancer Research UK, Aylesbury, for services to cancer research;

Dr Sheena Dykes (Marlow), for voluntary service to homeless people in High Wycombe;

Veronica Corben (Winslow), Chairman, Winslow Big Society Group, for services to the community in Winslow;

Colin Higgs (Aston Abbots), for services to the community in Aston Abbotts.