Dozens of people across the West Midlands have been celebrated in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours for their outstanding service to communities, professions and public life.
Spanning education, health, arts, sport and charity, this year’s awardees represent decades of commitment and dedication.
Herefordshire’s Heroes
In Herefordshire, Noel Manns of Ross-on-Wye was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his 15 years of political and public service as Chair of the Conservative Agents’ Superannuation Fund. Fellow Hereford local John Escott was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for 17 years of work in sporting education.
Shropshire’s Heroes
In Shropshire, Richard Howells of Telford earned an OBE for his role in technology and innovation. Simon Lusty from Ludlow was recognised with an MBE for his 16 years at the DVSA improving road safety. Gymnastics mentor Christine Still from Newport also received an MBE for 16 years of service to the sport.
Bridgnorth’s Donald Bannister, who chaired the Severn Valley Country Park volunteers for 17 years, and James Diggory of Nesscliffe, who has served his local community for the same length of time, both received the BEM. RAF trainer John McGlasson of Newport was also honoured for 17 years of defence service and charitable fundraising.
Staffordshire’s Heroes
Across Staffordshire, Dr Diane Swift of Burton-on-Trent received an OBE for her 15-year commitment to education. Professor Sharon Arkell of Burntwood and NHS pathology expert John Davies of Stafford were each awarded MBEs for 16 years of academic service. England footballer Rachel Daly from Tamworth was recognised for services to football, and Graham Lee from Tamworth was honoured for his work in heritage railways.
Tamworth foster carers Elisabeth and Gavin Brownlees, each with 17 years of care experience, were awarded BEMs. Staffordshire community stalwarts Andrew Buttery, Valerie Neale and Tracey O’Flaherty were also awarded for their long-standing voluntary service.
Warwickshire’s Heroes
In Warwickshire, Professor Muhammad Afzal Javed of Nuneaton received an OBE for his mental health leadership, having served 15 years at the NHS Trust and University of Warwick. Rugby’s Dr Peter Kent was recognised for education, while Alcester’s Tracy Westall was honoured for her contributions to digital policy and diversity.
West Midlands Heroes
Coventry residents Margaret Chatham and Aruna Mistry each received the BEM for community service and education respectively. Newbold-on-Stour’s Squadron Leader Jonathan Pullen received the BEM for his support to military charities over 17 years.
In the West Midlands, Sutton Coldfield’s James Barton, an Executive Director at HM Prison and Probation Service, was made a CBE for public service. Solihull’s Nour Norris, a campaigner against violence toward women, received an OBE after 15 years of advocacy.
Academics Professor Hanifa Shah and Professor Fang Gao Smith from Birmingham were each honoured for education and anaesthesia respectively. Captain Jagjit Singh Sohal, who chairs the WW1 Sikh Memorial Fund in Sutton Coldfield, was also recognised with an OBE.
Birmingham and Walsall saw a host of MBEs for individuals in education, digital inclusion, music, dance, faith, and broadcasting, with each recipient having dedicated between 15 and 17 years to their field.
Worcestershire Heroes
From Worcestershire, Melanie Clarke of Stourport received an OBE for her work in road network safety. Kidderminster’s Hannah Sidaway was honoured for services to law, while Worcester’s Shane Connolly was recognised for sustainable floristry.
This year’s honours shine a light on the commitment, compassion and quiet leadership of ordinary people making an extraordinary difference across the region.
Full list of West Midlands recipients:
Herefordshire
- Noel George Herbert Manns – OBE, political and public service (15 years)
- John Frederick Escott – BEM, sporting education (17 years)
Shropshire
- Richard Andrew Howells – OBE, business and technology (15 years)
- Simon James Lusty – MBE, road safety (16 years)
- Christine Margaret Still – MBE, gymnastics (16 years)
- Donald Eric Bannister – BEM, environment (17 years)
- James Colin Diggory – BEM, community service (17 years)
- John Robert McGlasson – BEM, defence and fundraising (17 years)
Staffordshire
- Michael Charles Mellor – OBE, heritage (15 years)
- Dr Diane Swift – OBE, education (15 years)
- Professor Sharon Arkell – MBE, higher education (16 years)
- Rachel Daly – MBE, football (16 years)
- John Ian Davies – MBE, NHS and education (16 years)
- Saffron Fern Lane – MBE, sport (16 years)
- Graham Lee – MBE, heritage and charity (16 years)
- Gareth Brian Moss – MBE, education (16 years)
- Elisabeth Brownlees – BEM, foster care (17 years)
- Gavin Brownlees – BEM, foster care (17 years)
- Andrew David Buttery – BEM, community service (17 years)
- Valerie Neale – BEM, community service (17 years)
- Tracey O’Flaherty – BEM, community service (17 years)
Warwickshire
- Professor Muhammad Afzal Javed – OBE, mental health (15 years)
- Dr Peter Richard Kent – OBE, education (15 years)
- Tracy Ann Westall – OBE, digital sector (15 years)
- Tracy Ann Darke – MBE, town planning (16 years)
- Anne Teresa Fenton – MBE, children with disabilities (16 years)
- Lee Fisher – MBE, learning-disabled community (16 years)
- Russell Stephen Mons Hardy – MBE, NHS and charity (16 years)
- Julian Mark Hetherington – MBE, business investment (16 years)
- Professor David Martin Keene – MBE, airports decarbonisation (16 years)
- Margaret Ann Chatham – BEM, community service (17 years)
- Phillip Michael Freeman – BEM, community service (17 years)
- Aruna Bipin Mistry – BEM, education (17 years)
- Trevor Pepper – BEM, hospitality industry (17 years)
- Squadron Leader Jonathan Pullen – BEM, military charities (17 years)
- Alison Elizabeth Ross – BEM, youth and community (17 years)
- Jeffrey Ernest Stevens – BEM, community service (17 years)
West Midlands
- James Barton – CBE, public service (14 years)
- Nour Al-Houda Balich Norris – OBE, women’s safety (15 years)
- Professor Hanifa Unisa Shah – OBE, higher education (15 years)
- Professor Fang Gao Smith – OBE, anaesthesia (15 years)
- Captain Jagjit Singh Sohal – OBE, commemoration of soldiers (15 years)
- Peter Richard Bill – MBE, neurophysiology (16 years)
- Surdarshan Singh Chana – MBE, music and Sikh culture (16 years)
- Hafsha Dadabhai-Shaikh – MBE, digital inclusion (16 years)
- Janet Mary Harding – MBE, special education (16 years)
- Joanne Judith Jones – MBE, education (16 years)
- Ram Kishan Mehmi – MBE, faith and integration (16 years)
- Professor Rachel Kerry O’Reilly – MBE, chemistry (16 years)
- Wayne Ian Parmel – MBE, arts (16 years)
- Sonia Sabri – MBE, dance (16 years)
- Fleur Joanna Sexton – MBE, community service (16 years)
- Sarah Elizabeth Smith – MBE, education (16 years)
- Elizabeth Swift – MBE, law and order (16 years)
- Nicolette Marie Thomas-Tapper – MBE, broadcasting (16 years)
- Paul Stephen Wilsher – MBE, education (16 years)
- Christy Acton – BEM, homelessness (17 years)
- Kerrie Ann Green – BEM, Army Cadet Force (17 years)
- Carl John Ledbury – BEM, ambulance staff (17 years)
- Dr Peter Paul Mayer – BEM, NHS service (17 years)
- David Nicholas Meredith – BEM, theatre and community (17 years)
- David John Payne – BEM, community service (17 years)
Worcestershire
- Melanie Clarke – OBE, road network (15 years)
- Hannah Marie Sidaway – OBE, law and order (15 years)
- Shane John Gerard Connolly – MBE, floristry (16 years)
- Steven Michael Davies – MBE, sport (16 years)
- Geoffrey Sansome – MBE, farming and voluntary sector (16 years)
- Merleen Ann Watson – MBE, deaf and hearing community (16 years)
- Karen Blanchfield – BEM, environmental education (17 years)
- Richard Patrick Hayhow – BEM, young people and artists (17 years)
- Patricia Prudence Neal – BEM, grassroots netball (17 years)
- Jane Charlotte Lee Poynder – BEM, sport (17 years)
