New Year Honours for charity founders and carers

The founder of a musician's charity that helps aspiring performers and supports people experiencing homelessness has been honoured for her work.

Emma Rule, from Hertfordshire, was appointed MBE for setting up Musicians Against Homelessness (MAH) in 2016.

So far, MAH has generated more than £300,000, with the money going directly to the homelessness charity Crisis.

She said the honour was "surreal" and "an absolute surprise", adding that she shared it with her team.

"We've put on huge events, tiny events, events in pubs, libraries, churches, big festival stages, the House of Commons, pretty much any way you can think of that you can put music on," said Ms Rule.

She added as a result, new artists have sung on stages with stars including Peter Andre and Sister Sledge.

"It's actually one of my favourite things to see those artists that might currently be unknown having those opportunities to get onto those stages with those people."

She said homelessness remained a big issue.

Ross and Amy Watson, both 40, from Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, were also recognised for their services to foster care, each receiving a British Empire Medal (BEM).

Both have served as foster carers for more than three years, demonstrating "exceptional dedication and compassion" for children in central Bedfordshire.

Their commitment to a medically vulnerable child involved extensive medical training with Great Ormond Street Hospital, and earned them praise as "exceptional foster carers."

They have also adopted five children.

Also recognised in the King's New Year Honours was Sonia Hazel, 52, from Bedford, who received a BEM for her services to diversity and inclusion in the rail industry.

Ms Hazel, who works for Network Rail, established the Tea Break, a safe space for black, Asian and minority ethnic employees to discuss issues affecting them.

Others in Bedfordshire awarded honours include:

• His Honour Judge Patrick Perusko, designated family judge, Family Drug and Alcohol Court, is appointed CBE for services to the administration of justice
• Dr Hywel Davies, head of technical insight, chartered association of building engineers, is appointed OBE for services to building safety and standards
• Nicola Marfleet, lately governing governor, HM Prison Woodhill, is appointed OBE for public service
• Sarah Ann Ashton-May, lately director for professional policy and practice, Royal College of Midwives, is appointed MBE for services to midwifery
• Susan Anne Goodchild, Central Bedfordshire councillor, is appointed MBE for services to local government and the community in Bedfordshire
• James Bouromsak Keothavong is appointed MBE for services to tennis and tennis umpiring
• David John Pendall, volunteer coach, Bedford Rowing Club, is awarded a BEM for services to rowing and to young people in Bedford
• Anna Simmons, treasurer and board member, ASCEL, is awarded a BEM for services to libraries
• Rachel Anne Williams, volunteer, church and community, is awarded a BEM for services to the community in Toddington

Others in Hertfordshire awarded honours include:

• Samantha Louise Des Forges, director, conduct, equity and justice, Ministry of Defence, is appointed CBE for services to equity and justice in defence
• Dr Luisa Maria Freitas Dos Santos Livingston FREng, vice president, global clinical supply chain, GlaxoSmithKline, is appointed CBE for services to pharmaceutical engineering
• Prof David Thomas Kemp FRS, emeritus prof of auditory biophysics, University College London, is appointed CBE for services to auditory sciences and public health
• Leah Cathrine Williamson OBE is appointed CBE for services to association football
• Debbie Elizabeth Bartlett, lately deputy director, protect and prepare, Home Office is appointed OBE for public service
• Rukshana Kapasi, director of health, Barnardo's, is appointed OBE for services to transforming care, to health equity and to the patient voice
• The Hon. Paavan Popat, chief executive, TLC Care, is appointed OBE for services to intergenerational housing
• Dr Aderonke Matilda Adebiren Savage, chief executive officer and founder, Jomas Associates Ltd, is appointed OBE for services to young people, to business and to the construction industry
• Sarah Louise Williams-Gardener, chair, FinTech Wales and lately chair of the Western Gateway Partnership, is appointed OBE for services to the development of the UK financial services ecosystem, regional economic growth and to charity
• Judith Lesley Charlesworth, lately chair of Barnet Special Education Trust in London, is appointed MBE for services to education
• Reginald Kenneth East, foster carer, is appointed MBE for services to foster care
• Michael Charles French, head of games at Film London and festival director of London Games Festival, is appointed MBE for services to the games industry, to inclusion and to charity
• David Thomas Gurney, lately film laboratory lead at British Film Institute, is appointed MBE for services to cinema and heritage
• Peter David Hunt is appointed MBE for parliamentary and political services
• Michael Henry Marx, trustee at the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, is appointed MBE for services to Holocaust remembrance and education
• Steven Ronald Munkley, vice president, Craft Guild of Chefs, is appointed MBE for services to the hospitality industry and to young people
• Elizabeth Emma-Campbell Prescott, specialist nurse for Thalassaemia Whittington Health NHS Trust, is appointed MBE for services to people living with Thalassaemia syndrome
• Dr Tanya Esther Thomson (Tanya Moore), principal social worker, Essex County Council, is appointed MBE for services to social work
• Alun James Clemers, volunteer, Imperial War Museum Duxford, is awarded a BEM for voluntary services
• Donna-Marie Inwood, chair, Leecliffe Big Local, is awarded a BEM for services to the community in Leecliffe, Borehamwood

Other people in Buckinghamshire awarded honours include:

• Dr Richard William John Clarke, director general, public safety group, Home Office, is appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath for public service
• Neeta Avnash Kaur Atkar MBE JP, lately senior independent director to the board, British Business Bank, is appointed CBE for services to small business finance and the British Business Bank
• Ingrid Stephanie Boyce, lately president, Law Society of England and Wales and consultant, Linklaters, is appointed CBE for services to the legal profession and to diversity and to access to justice
• Rupesh Mohan Mehta, lately director, planning, Department for Transport, is appointed CBE for services to transport planning
• Martin Anthony Tett, councillor and lately leader of Buckinghamshire Council, is appointed CBE for political and public service
• Sarah Jane Burton, head of detention profession returns command, Home Office, is appointed OBE for public service
• Jenifer Frances Mary Cameron, chief executive, Action 4 Youth, is appointed OBE for charitable service
• Gabrielle Nicole Logan MBE, broadcaster, is appointed OBE for services to sport broadcasting and to charity
• Dr Alexander Rhys, founder, It Gets Better UK, is appointed OBE for services to healthcare and to the LGBTQ+ community
• Gary John Ryan, executive director, marketing, remembrance and fundraising at the Royal British Legion, is appointed OBE for services to the armed forces community
• Anna Gretchen Selby, executive director of quality, HC-One, is appointed OBE for services to adult social care
• Jonathan Mark White, lately chair, The Rivers Trust, is appointed OBE for services to river conservation
• Gillian Rosemary Whitehead, chair, Women's Rugby World Cup 2025, is appointed OBE for services to women's rugby
• Edward Cowley, senior policy adviser, NHS England, is appointed MBE for services to the nursing workforce
• Isa Tara Guha, founder and chair, Take Her Lead, is appointed MBE for services to inclusivity and cricket
• David William Hudson, lately headteacher, Royal Latin School, is appointed MBE for services to education
• Peter David Clark, head of 16-19 funding and financial support policy, Department for Education, is awarded a BEM for services to further education
• Ian Philip Shepherd is awarded a BEM for services to the community in High Wycombe

Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.