Devon's local heroes honoured in New Year list

A number of people in Devon have been honoured by His Majesty the King in the 2025 New Year Honours List.

Among those recognised is Angie Cheal, a Royal Navy Warrant Officer, who has been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her dedication to helping sailors and Royal Marines recover from serious illness and injury.

The Plymouth-based 51-year-old described the award as "incredible" and accepted it "with great pride".

Others honoured include Lesley-Ann Simpson, a men's health campaigner awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for her role supporting men diagnosed with prostate, testicular and penile cancer.

Warrant Officer Cheal is among 27 sailors and Royal Marines from across the UK being honoured by King Charles III.

Over the past five years, she has designed, developed and delivered a programme to help stricken naval personnel either resume their careers or prepare for a new life outside the armed forces.

Beginning as a single initiative, it has since grown to about 80 annual recovery courses directly impacting about 1,000 services personnel - a figure that looks set to expand in years to come.

"I'm immensely proud of what we have built," she said.

"The people we support are always at the forefront of my mind and I am grateful for the assistance I've been given to see this project become what it is today.

"It is an incredible honour to receive an MBE, and one that I accept with great pride on behalf of my very supportive family and colleagues."

For more than 20 years, Lesley-Ann Simpson has been the leader of Derriford Hospital-based charity The Chestnut Appeal for Men's Health and has given thousands of awareness talks and provided free prostate cancer testing across the region.

Her efforts have also helped secure vital medical equipment, supported specialist nursing staff and made innovative procedures such as internal radiotherapy and robotic surgery available in the South West for the first time.

Having raised millions of pounds for the cause, the 53-year-old from Plymouth described the honour as "overwhelming".

She said that BBC Radio Devon adopting her charity back in 2003 "really helped get it off the ground".

"They did a year-long fundraising campaign amongst their listeners, which worked wonders for us," she said.

"All I ever wanted was to make sure men felt seen, supported and less afraid to talk about their health.

"And now this BEM has given me the impetus to reach even more lives than before."

• How does the UK honours system work?

Plymouth's Samantha Louise Abrahams has been awarded the BEM for her choir group, La La Choirs, which promotes singing as a way to improve mental health.

She established it in 2008 and, under her leadership, it has grown from 12 members in Lympstone to hundreds across several towns.

It has raised more than £300,000 for various charitable causes through public performances and events.

Ms Abrahams said she was "speechless" to be honoured.

"It's really humbling," she added.

Other honours recipients from Devon include:

• Prof Stephen Ernest Belcher, appointed a CBE [Commander of the Order of the British Empire] for services to climate science
• Martin Lynn Davies, chair of Cosmic, appointed a CBE for services to employment provision for people with disabilities
• Jonathan Bishop, chief executive officer and executive head teacher of Cornerstone Academy Trust, appointed an OBE for services to education
• Vanessa Claire Ford, chief executive of South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, appointed an MBE for services to mental health nursing
• Prof Christopher Jeremy Tredwin, former head of Peninsula Dental School, appointed an MBE for services to general practice
• David Rodney Allen, president of the British Judo Association (Western Area) and Senior Coach of Exmouth Vikings, awarded the BEM for services to judo
• Diane Mary Fuller, former chair of Sidmouth Health and Care Forum, awarded the BEM for services to the community in Sid Valley
• Charlotte Anne Luckett, principal surveyor at the Valuation Office Agency, awarded the BEM for public service and charitable works
• Victoria Louise Seymour, former tutor at Somerset Skills and Learning, awarded the BEM for services to skills
• David Harry Stembridge KC, awarded the BEM for services to the community in Newton Ferrers and Noss Mayo
• Commodore Stephen Thorne RD. awarded, the BEM for services to the community in Dorset
• John Vincent, owner of The Network – Tackling Social Exclusion, awarded the BEM for services to public libraries
• Gillian Rebecca Ainslie, tutor and assessor at Plymouth Life Centre Bowls Club, awarded the BEM for services to the community

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