A NUMBER of people across the county have been recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours for 2021.

Two people in the area will receive MBEs while two have been recognised with a BEM, all of which came as a surprise to the remarkable people being honoured.

Bournemouth Echo: Adam Elcock will receive an MBE

Receiving an MBE is Adam Elcock, 41, from Christchurch, for his services to fundraising for military charities.

Mr Elcock served in the specialist unit for nine years and has since cycled across New Zealand, kayaked to Bordeaux and climbed Mount. Blanc for Military Veterans.

He said: “I am ex-military and they are my mates, my brothers, I love helping them out.

“I was gobsmacked to be nominated and humbled, I am just a normal bloke from Christchurch.

“I got into the charity through friends, I have some who have lost limbs and things like that.

“It’s nice to get recognition but I do it because I love it.”

Bournemouth Echo: Alison Hughes will receive an MBE

Alison Dorothy Hughes, from Iwerne Minster, 48, has been given an MBE for her services to tennis.

Ms Hughes is one of two active British Gold Badge tennis umpires on the international circuit.

The most senior female tennis umpire in the country, Ms Hughes has officiated 21 women’s Grand Slam singles finals and one men’s final.

She said: “I am not a hundred sure how the nomination came about to be honest, I was very honoured to receive one.

“I have been involved in tennis since officiating my first Wimbledon in 1993 as a line umpire and started to travel internationally in 1997.

“I got the bug and I have been part of the ITF grand slam team since 2006.

“The MBE is a real honour, I love my job, I’m very proud of what I do, to receive this is a complete honour. It’s a complete shock and I’m very, very honoured.”

Bournemouth Echo: Andrew Wileman will receive a BEM

Andrew Wileman, from Ferndown, was awarded a BEM for his services to the community in Bournemouth through his work with the Salvation Army.

The 56-year-old said: “I am very surprised, very humbled. I just get on and do what I do, it’s nice to get the recognition but I don’t do it for that.

“Over the last 20 years I have been a member of the Salvation Army in Winton.

“For the last 12 years I have supported victims of human trafficking and modern slavery who come into us.”

Mr Wileman is an established philanthropist and frequently travels considerable distances to collect and transport victims to safe houses in Bournemouth.

He continued: “I found out about the nomination about a month ago, I got a letter from the cabinet office and I had to accept.

“I am very humbled and very surprised, I didn’t know anything about it.

“It is recognition of all the community work that goes on at the Salvation Army in Winton, we are very active in helping people.

“I am very proud but it’s about the wider work we do, I just go out and do what we can, but I’m very humbled.

“I do what I do just because I think God has asked me to do that and the activist Salvationist in me just gets on and does these things. I don't think, ‘one day I'll get a medal for this’, or anything like that.”

Bournemouth Echo: Reginald Pound will receive a BEM

Reginald Pound, 53, from Poole, will receive a BEM for his services to the community in Poole.

Mr Pound worked with the Poole Housing Partnership throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and became a driving force with the new delivery service, providing food parcels to more than ten local schools.

He said: “I was doing food parcels when we had the pandemic, I was doing it for the schools and for vulnerable people.

“I was shocked [to be given a BEM]. I was the first from PHP to get one. I couldn’t believe it.

“I have mental health issues myself and wanted to give back to the community.

“It has been a long year doing it, it has been difficulty but we managed it and got it done.

“It is an honour and something I never thought I would get. Next year I will be able to go to the Queen’s garden party.”