Queen’s Birthday Honours: Dorset's finest recognised on list

The former Bournemouth councillor and Dorset county councillor, who lives in Southbourne, is a stalwart of Boscombe Salvation Army and organises the Daily Echo’s Toy Appeal.

A member of Bournemouth Rotary Club and volunteer at Lighthouse Poole, widower Phil’s other community roles have included being a Royal Bournemouth Hospital governor and a hospital visitor.

Last autumn, at the age of 91, he was elected a governor for Dorset HealthCare Trust; a role he will hold for three years.

For the last 13 years Phil has organised the Christmas Toy Appeal which has led to 100,000 toys and gifts being distributed.

A trustee of the Butterfly Foundation, a Bournemouth charity which supports victims of domestic violence, Phil is also a trustee of the newly formed Bournemouth Older Persons’ Forum.

He received five medals for wartime service with the RAF in Europe and a D-Day badge of honour from the French Government.

He was presented with a 30-year membership award from the Rotary Club and received a certificate marking 42 years service to the Salvation Army.

He told the Daily Echo: “I am delighted to have received the MBE; it is such an honour and my family are so proud. Looking back over the years, it’s been a very full and interesting life.”

British Empire medal for ex-soldier

EX-SOLDIER and fundraiser Raymond Clark was announced as a recipient of the British Empire Medal the day after his 65th birthday.

Ray, of Charminster, receives the award for services to volunteering and charitable giving.

He has worked for the Samaritans in Bournemouth, the Salvation Army in Westbourne, the homelessness charity Emmeus and Action Cancer near his former home in Northern Ireland.

He recently retired from part-time work at Asda Castlepoint. In November, he is due to have a book published of postcards he received from celebrities, politicians and soldiers containing their thoughts on war.

Widower Ray, originally from the village of Annfield near Durham, joined the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers aged 15 as a boy bandsman. Being stationed with the army meant getting a bed to himself for the first time in his life.

He served at Aden, Germany, Northern Ireland and with a United Nations force in Cyprus.

“At 65 I’ve got a book being published and a British Empire Medal,” he said.

“Life begins at 65. All I need now is to find a rich woman like Sophia Loren.”

MBE for manager of the Bournemouth Symphony Chorus

CAROLYN Date, who volunteered to organise a fundraising concert and ended up running Bournemouth Symphony Chorus, receives the MBE.

She is secretary and manager of the chorus, a choir of 160 amateurs who perform between 12 and 18 concerts a year with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

Carolyn has been service and strategy manager with Bournemouth Libraries and president of the Bournemouth branch of Unison.

A member of the chorus for around 35 years, she organised a fundraising concert in an effort to save the Bournemouth Sinfonietta – and became the next choice for secretary.

“I’m very passionate about the chorus. It was founded by Sir Dan Godfrey. He was so proud of it and the fact that Bournemouth had a municipal orchestra and a choir,” she said.

“I’ve done my best to continue that tradition and also to make it accessible to people.”

PJ Harvey awarded MBE for services to music

DORSET rock star PJ Harvey has been made an MBE for services to music. The 43-year-old singer – full name Polly Jean Harvey – said she was “very happy”.

She has won numerous accolades, becoming the only artist to win the Mercury Prize on two occasions – in 2001 and 2011.

Her career began in her teens as a member of the band Automatic Dlamini, beginning a lengthy professional partnership with the group's frontman John Parish. 

She went on to form her own bass/drums/guitar trio in 1991, releasing an independent album which led to Rolling Stone magazine naming her best new female singer.

Purbeck councillor Gloria Marsh awarded MBE

PURBECK District Council stalwart Gloria Marsh has been awarded the MBE for services to local government and the environment.

The councillor, currently the district’s vice-chairman, represents the Swanage North ward for the Conservatives and has served on a number of environment committees.

Cllr Marsh, who also sits on Swanage Town Council, said: “It’s been very exciting. I was extremely proud when I first got the letter.”

She has been a councillor for both Swanage Town Council and Purbeck District Council for 27 years.

“It’s been a great honour to be able to work for the people of Swanage and Purbeck,” she said.

Cllr Marsh, who also has strong family ties to Swanage RNLI.

“My late husband was coxswain of Swanage lifeboat and my son-in-law is the present coxswain of Swanage lifeboat,” she explained.

“I also have three grandsons who are also in Swanage RNLI.”

She is currently the president of the Swanage Ladies Guild of the RNLI.

• Bournemouth-based Barbara Elster, who is vice-president of Diabetes UK, receives the British Empire Medal for services to people affected by diabetes.
• A North Dorset couple, who have fostered 65 children over the last 40 years, receive the MBE for services to children. Peter and Jean Dorey have looked after some children for just one night, while others have stayed at their home in Gillingham for several years.
• Lynne Doodney of Sherborne receives the British Empire Medal for services to the scouts and the community in Sherborne.
• Mabel Hooper of Shaftesbury receives the British Empire Medal for services to the community in Motcombe.

Others who made the list:

BLACKADDER and Time Team star Tony Robinson receives a knighthood for public and political service.

His former co-star Rowan Atkinson receives a CBE for services to drama and charity.

Singer Adele receives the MBE for services to music.

MBEs also go to singer and broadcaster Aled Jones as well as comedian Rob Brydon, actor, director and playwright David Haig, and Chocolat author Joanne Harris.

Sports presenter Clare Balding is made an OBE for services to broadcasting and journalism.
Golfer Paul Lawrie also receives the award.

OBEs go to GQ editor Dylan Jones, Labyrinth author Kate Mosse, and Christian Horner, principal of the Red Bull Formula 1 team.

Entrepreneur and former Dragon's Den star Hilary Devey receives a CBE for services to the transport industry and to charity, with a CBE also going to cinematographer Roger Deakins, best-known for his work on the films of the Coen brothers and Sam Mendes, including Skyfall.

Former James Bond villain and Game Of Thrones star Julian Glover is made a CBE, along with director Michael Attenborough, son of Richard Attenborough.

Writer Jackie Collins receives an OBE for services to fiction and to charity.