Dorset residents recognised in King's Birthday Honours 2023

Paul Kirby has received the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to health and social care.

His work has directly improved health and care services for deaf people across the country.

He has a long history of supporting people who are hard of hearing, as a teacher of British Sign Language (BSL) for over 25 years and later as a care manager for the Care Quality Commission.

He told the Echo he was ‘honoured’ to be recognised.

“When I received it, I was honoured and shocked because I never expect an award like this for the things I do,” he said.

“What I do to go the extra mile is because I want accessibility for BSL users to access the services they deserve to access, the same as everybody else.

“The only way to do that is educate people on how to make it accessible.

“To receive it is very much an honour but its humbling because it is nice to be recognised as BSL as a language. It helps promote BSL, it really does.”

Paul, 50, from Blandford Forum, said he hopes the recognition will show other BSL users what they can achieve.

“A lot of people make assumptions of BSL users that we find it hard to communicate in the community,” he said.

“We’re no different to you, the only difference is the language. It’s harder for deaf people to learn to speak, it’s easier for hearing people to learn to sign.

“That’s where the passion comes into it, as a regulator to make sure that our inspectors challenge providers to say, what resources have you got for people with BSL.”

Meanwhile, Olympic medallist in sailing, Peter Allam, has received an MBE for his work in the sport.

Peter, 63 won bronze at the 1984 Olympic Games in the Flying Dutchman Class.

His work with the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) has helped to introduce thousands more people to the sport, working with the Andrew Simpson Foundation.

Peter said it was ‘completely unexpected and very surprising’ to hear he would receive an MBE.

“I was just absolutely, totally surprised,” he told the Echo.

“Then I felt pretty chuffed, extremely pleased. Then when I think about it a bit more, I feel incredibly privileged and humbled that others have put me forward for this.”

The Poole resident paid tribute to those who have helped him through his career and his work at the academy.

“I’ve been privileged to have a wonderful team of staff who’ve supported me and shared the goals, backed up with an incredible group of volunteers who week in week out help deliver the events and the activities that take place at the sailing academy,” he said.

“It turns from a feeling of immense pride, but also it's quite humbling, the support that has been behind me to enable me to do what I have done.

“On top of that, you’ve got people who’ve been with you right through my career, particularly my wife Jo who’s stood by my side through thick and thin.”

Ten Dorset residents have been recognised on the list, including Poole resident and chief executive of Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Douglas Scarfe, who will receive an OBE for services to the arts.

Sturminster Newton resident and former chief executive of Merlin Entertainments Sir Nick Varney has been honoured with a knighthood for services to the visitor economy, as chief of the company that owns Alton Towers, Legoland and Thorpe Park.

He said: “I’m incredibly humbled and proud to have been awarded this accolade.

“Having worked in the tourism and leisure industry for over 30 years, I have had the privilege of helping to build Merlin from a small British business to the global company it is today.

“This enormous honour is shared with all those at Merlin both past and present, who were part of that amazing journey.

“Following the difficulties the hospitality and tourism industry experienced during the pandemic, this knighthood reinforces the importance of our sector to the UK, one which contributes more than £130 billion each year to the British economy.

“I’m proud to have played my part in that and will continue to champion and support this amazing industry.”