DORSET figures from charity volunteers to the chief constable have been recognised in the New Year’s Honours list.

The county’s Lord-Lieutenant – the Queen’s representative in Dorset – becomes a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.

The honour is given by the Queen herself to people who have personally served her or the monarchy.

Valerie Lane-Fox Pitt-Rivers is the 37th Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset – and the first woman to hold the office. She is due to retire from the role early next year.

She said: “It is a great honour and I am delighted. It has been such a privilege to be Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset since 2006 and I have met the most interesting people and have been to such a lot of interesting places. I could not have enjoyed it more.”

She worked in advertising and public relations in London, before marrying Anthony Lane-Fox Pitt-Rivers in 1964 and moving to Dorset in 1970 to farm and run the family estate at Hinton St Mary. She is involved in a host of charitable and arts organisations.

Debbie Simpson, who became Dorset’s chief constable in January, is awarded the Queen’s Police Medal.

She said: “I am immensely humbled to have been honoured in this way.

“It remains a very great privilege to have the opportunity to work with the terrific people in the force."

Miss Simpson joined Bedfordshire Police in 1984 and eventually became head of CID. She joined Devon and Cornwall Constabulary in 2008 as assistant chief constable and became Dorset’s deputy chief constable in 2011.

She has two young daughters and her partner is a serving police sergeant.

 

Bournemouth Echo:

Friends Sue Dennett and Julie Lankshear – who have brought happiness to hundreds of people through their charity, Caring Canines – each receive the British Empire Medal.

The charity, established in 2006, aims to enhance the lives of those missing canine companionship. It works with people with learning difficulties, disabilities, mental health issues and terminal illnesses.

Sue, 67, said: “We really wouldn’t be anywhere at all without our volunteers and members, so it’s for all of us together.”

Sue and Julie, 65, have renamed the award ‘Brilliant Efforts by Members’.

“It’s all down to teamwork,” said Sue.

“We’re just delighted.”

In the years since Caring Canines began, more than 100 volunteers have been trained to help across a range of programmes. Just a year after the charity’s launch, it was given the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Bournemouth Echo:

Susan Hough, chief executive of Dorset County Football Association, receives the MBE for services to women’s and disability football.

She said: “It’s absolutely wonderful news, and I feel very overwhelmed.”

For more than 20 years, the former head of PE at Blandford School has helped support and develop women’s football.

She said: “When I was growing up, I played hockey, as that was the sport that girls participated in at that point.

“Through my son, I became more and more involved in football, and I started off as the secretary for our local club in Blandford.”

However, when the FA introduced paid development officers into county football associations, Mrs Hough decided to apply. She has worked her way up to the head of the association, a role she took on in 2005, and is also the voluntary chairman of the Women’s Football Committee – the first female to be elected as chairman of any committee of the FA.

Bournemouth Echo:

Former Ferndown mayor Terry Cordery receives the MBE for services to the Dorset Fire Fighters Charity, Dorset Schools’ Football Association and those who live in his hometown.

The 75-year-old said: “I am absolutely thrilled.

“It was a real shock to find out, but I couldn’t be happier.”

Before his retirement, Mr Cordery – a former lecturer in mechanical engineering – supported fundraising at the charity as the Dorset Fire Brigade Treasurer. He has also visited members of the fire service who are distressed or in need.

Since 1977, he has been involved with the football association, working as the county cup co-ordinator for the under-14 age group.

Bournemouth Echo:

Verwood’s Pam Reeks was “shocked and overwhelmed” to learn she would receive the British Empire Medal for services to the community.

From her work at Hillside First School to volunteering as an archivist with both the Verwood Historical Society and the town’s Museum Trust, the 77-year-old is involved with many elements of town life.

“I still can’t really believe it,” said Pam, who also volunteers as the president of Verwood Concert Brass.

“I’m amazed and feel very honoured indeed.”

Barbara-Anne Mills, 61, who owns St James Preschool Link in Christchurch Road, receives the British Empire Medal for services to education.

She trained as a nursery nurse in the 1960s before moving on to teach parent craft lessons in maternity wards.

She set up the preschool almost 20 years ago after bringing up her own family of four boys.

Last year, Mrs Mills won Pre-School Worker of the Year at Bournemouth’s Early Years Sector Awards.

Bournemouth Echo:

The principal and vice-chancellor of the Arts University Bournemouth receives the CBE for services to higher education.

Professor Stuart Bartholomew previously held posts at universities in Canada, the University of Derby, the Open University and as Dean of Media at the University of the Arts in London.

He joined the Bournemouth college in 1997.

He was elected a Fellow of the royal Society of Arts in 1999 and is visiting professor at the University of the Arts in London.

Bournemouth Echo:

Paul Savage, clinical operations manager for the RNLI in Poole, receives the OBE.

He developed a course for the RNLI’s 4,500 volunteers which is now being used by other emergency services.

The simple approach uses check cards instead of relying on people’s memory, meaning crew members and lifeguards can quickly assess casualties and provide the most appropriate treatment.

“It’s about equipping people with the skills and the confidence to treat casualties, whether that’s in their role as a volunteer crew member on a lifeboat or patrolling the beach as a lifeguard,” said Paul who joined the charity in 1985 as a sea survival trainer and juggles his work in Poole with serving as a volunteer crew member at Tower Lifeboat Station on the Thames.

Bournemouth Echo:

Sue Fernley, who has run the RNLI’s legacy department for 21 years has been made an MBE for services to maritime safety.

She is responsible for more than £100million of the charity’s income every year, in a role which requires skill, diplomacy, sensitivity and a massive amount of unpaid overtime.

Sue has been a leader in her local Brownie troop in Poole for more than 30 years and has progressed from young helper in her parish to a leader in youth work.

RNLI chief executive Paul Boissier said: “Sue Fernley is the embodiment of charitable service. She is one of the people who quietly, and without fanfare, contributes massively to the wellbeing of her community.

“Whether it is in her uniquely sensitive role of working with bereaved families to deliver the RNLI’s legacy funding, or instructing young Brownies, she brings a ready smile, a willingness to contribute to the full and a heart of gold.

Brownsea Island volunteer warden Lewis Parkyn, who has notched up 51 years helping out on the National Trust owned island, has been awarded the British Empire Medal.

“I went for the weekend and I’m still going 51 years later,” said the 71-year-old retired senior partner at a Poole firm of solicitors.

He first went to help out over the Whitsun Bank Holiday in 1962, when the island was not yet open to the public and his task was to prevent people landing there.

Since then he has helped with visitors, manned the fire tower, fought fires, helped with maintenance and done a myriad of tasks. “To a degree it’s the old village bobby post,” he said.

With his father Kim, who founded the volunteers and was made an MBE, his late wife and sons, he reckons the Parkyn family has clocked up more than 200 years volunteering on Brownsea.

Pastoral support worker Nicola Goudie, who helps Poole Royal Marines and their families with the Naval chaplaincy team, has been awarded the British Empire Medal.

In the New Forest, 86-year-old Phylis Inglis receives the British Empire Medal for her 20-year contribution to her community in New Milton.

She chairs both the Neighbour Care Group, which provides transport for the elderly, and the New Milton Stroke Group, and is on the committee of the local Royal British Legion as well as being involved in the town’s residents’ association.

She stepped up her volunteering after her husband died nine years ago.

“I laughed when I opened the letter and found out about the honour. But I am very proud to receive it,” she said.

Bournemouth Echo:

Geoff Morgan, chairman of the New Forest and Hampshire County Show, also receives the BEM for services to farming, rural issues and heritage.

The 74-year-old, who ran a dairy farm in Pennington for most of his working life, has been at the helm of the show since 2001 and is stepping down in February.

He said: “I much appreciate the fact that you go on working for others all your life and when something like this comes along it is very welcome.”

Professor Paul Tyler from Fordingbridge is made MBE for his services to science.

He has been singled out for his work in deep-sea biology and is a professorial research fellow at the University of Southampton National Oceanography Centre.