West Sussex residents honoured

Keith Exford. Chief executive Affinity Sutton Group, from Balcombe, has been awarded a CBE for services to Housing in London who lives in Balcombe, West Sussex. He has spent his career in housing management.

Dr Anna Danielle Van Der Gaag, chairman of the Health and Care Professions Council, from Slinfold, receives a CBE for services to health and care.

Dr Glynn Jones, a deputy lieutenant for East Sussex and who lives in Hassocks, and member of several not-for-proft boards also receives a OBE for services to the community in Sussex.

Sarah Wendy Jewell, founder and managing director SJA International, and chief executive Officer, ALC Health from Findon, receives her MBE for services to Entrepreneurship in the Medical Health Industry.

Julian Martin Leigh-Pollitt. For services to the Steyning Area First Responders Group and to the community in Steyning.

Gail Ramsden, from Lancing, senior officer IT skills and capability manager, Valuation Office Agency, receives the MBE for services to Young People through the ICT Apprentice Scheme.

Margaret Alford, 64, who lives in Ashington, with her husband Peter, has been honoured with a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the community in Ashington.

She got the popular Ashington Festival off the ground in the 1990s and helped lead fundraising efforts for the new community centre which opened in 2003.

The grandmother of three, who also served on Ashington Parish Council for three years.

Margaret was born in the village and moved to Findon as a child before moving back to Ashington when she married.

She added: “I just love Ashington and the people in the village and there’s so many people that all work voluntarily for good causes and good projects and I think they do so because they care like I do. It’s nice I have been selected but I wish everybody else could be selected as well.”

Monica Susan Hill. community volunteer, Mothers and Toddlers Group, Hurstpierpoint, receives the BEM for services to Children and Families.

Giles York, Chief Constable Sussex Police, receives a Queen’s Police Medal in the list.

He said: “It is an absolute privilege and honour to give so much to policing and to have it recognised in this way. Over the years I have enjoyed working with a huge number of amazing colleagues and partners who give so much to Sussex. They have made it a pleasure to come to work every day.”

Elsewhere, the creators of the spectacular sea of poppies that engulfed the Tower of London and touched the hearts of millions this year have both received MBEs. Paul Cummins and Tom Piper have been honoured in recognition of the immensely popular Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red, which saw 888,246 ceramic poppies progressively fill the moat at the Tower.

The artists are among 1,164 people recognised by the Queen in this year’s list, which also include honours for actors Joan Collins, James Corden and Sheridan Smith.

The poppies emerged as one of the most visited and acclaimed public art installations for years, drawing an estimated five million visitors between July and November.

Other prominent figures honoured this year are Esther Rantzen, actors John Hurt, Kristin Scott Thomas and Emily Watson, comedian Meera Syal, novelist Ali Smith, Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy and designer Mary Quant.

From the world of sport, former athletes Steve Cram and Dame Mary Peters, and Hillsborough campaigners Margaret Aspinall and Trevor Hicks are among those recognised, along with 103-year-old marathon runner Fauja Singh.

Former lord mayor of London Fiona Woolf, who resigned from her role as chair of the inquiry into historic child abuse, is given a damehood for services to the legal profession, diversity and the City of London.