32 people living in the county of Essex have been honoured in King Charles III’s New Year honours list.
Commenting on this announcement, Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst, Lord-Lieutenant of Essex, the King’s personal representative in the county, said:
“It is tremendous to see once again, so many people living in our wonderful county having their contributions to society recognised by His Majesty. The range of services represented in these awards is again a powerful reminder of the power of community and the difference that an individual can make.
I congratulate them most warmly on their achievements.
It is important to remember that there are many others in the community who do outstanding and selfless things in the service of other people and I would encourage anyone who knows someone whom they think has gone above & beyond in making the lives of others stronger and richer to nominate them for a national honour.”
Included in the list are individuals from all walks of life – central government, local government, the medical profession, law enforcement and the emergency services.
Also included are those from the voluntary sector and those who have selflessly devoted their time & energy to improving the lives of others through their charitable work.
A good example of this is Philip Davis from Loughton, who as a long-serving taxi driver (he was one of the original founders of the Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers) acted as the inspiration behind ”Magical Taxi Tours”, which has taken sick and possibly terminally ill children on a 3 day trip from London to Paris to enjoy Disneyland every year for the last 30 years.
One must also acknowledge the professional admiration with which Dr Philip Crummy is held by his peers in the field of archaeology, especially in the City of Colchester.
Similarly, it was the respect and admiration of those closest to her which has led to the nomination and now successful recognition of Louise Lees-Barrett, founder of a charity in Brentwood which provides riding opportunities for those who are disabled.
Also honoured is Mrs Joyce Giller (Joyce Lambert), who is 90 years old and has devoted over 50 years of her life to community service, mainly in the Southend-on-Sea area.
These are a few of the individuals whose achievements have been recognised by a national honour this year.
The Essex List
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
|
Mark |
HARDINGHAM |
QFSM |
Chair, National Fire Chiefs Council. For services to the Fire and Rescue Service |
Rayleigh |
|
Eleanor |
SEALY (Eleanor Kelly) |
Lately Chief Executive, Southwark Borough Council. For services to Local Government and to the community in London |
Loughton |
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
|
Paul Gregory |
FISHER |
|
Non-Executive Director and Chair, Audit and Risk Committee, UK Debt Management Office. For services to Public Finances |
Billericay |
|
Soumya |
MAJUMDAR |
|
Head of Unit, Proceeds of Crime Division, Crown Prosecution Service. For services to Law and Order |
Chelmsford |
|
Simon James |
MURPHY |
|
Lately Chief Executive Officer, Battersea Power Station Development Company. For services to Real Estate, Heritage and to the community in London |
Chelmsford |
|
Susan Margaret |
TOBBELL |
Philanthropist. For services to Charity |
Braintree |
Member of the Order of the British Empire
|
Nicola Jane |
BOWDIDGE |
|
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, The Tom Bowdidge Youth Cancer Foundation. For charitable services to Young People Suffering from Cancer |
Colchester |
|
Richard Charles Frank |
BOWDIDGE |
|
Co-Founder and Chair, Board of Trustees, The Tom Bowdidge Youth Cancer Foundation. For charitable services to Young People Suffering from Cancer |
Colchester |
|
Paul Martin |
BRICKELL |
|
Lately Executive Director of Regeneration and Community Partnerships, London Legacy Development Corporation. For services to the Regeneration of East London |
Stansted |
|
Pauline |
CRAVEN |
|
Co-Founder, Felsted Aid for Deprived Children. For services to International Humanitarian Aid, particularly in Ukraine |
Felsted |
|
Philip John |
CRUMMY |
|
Lately Director and Principal Archaeologist, Colchester Archaeological Trust. For services to Archaeology and Heritage |
Colchester |
|
Bhaskar |
DASGUPTA |
|
Consultant Rheumatologist, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust. For services to People with Giant Cell Arteritis and Polymyalgia Rheumatica |
Westcliff-on-Sea |
|
Phillip John |
DAVIS |
|
Founder, Magical Taxi Tour, Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers. For Charitable Service to Children with Life Threatening Illnesses |
Chigwell |
|
Joyce Hannah |
GILLER (Joyce Lambert) |
|
For services to the community in Essex |
Westcliff-on-Sea |
|
Samantha Jane |
HAMBER |
|
Head of Criminal Justice Services, St Mungo’s. For services to Tackling Homelessness |
Basildon |
|
Alan |
HILLIAR |
|
Co-Founder, Felsted Aid for Deprived Children. For services to International Humanitarian Aid, particularly in Ukraine |
Felsted |
|
Gary |
HORNE |
|
Deputy Chief Executive, Colchester Institute, Essex. For services to Education |
Harwich |
|
June Frances |
O’BRIEN |
|
For services to the community in Epping Forest, Essex |
Epping |
|
Gail |
O’SHEA |
|
Co-Founder, Wipe Away Those Tears. For charitable services to Terminally and Seriously Ill Children in Essex |
Brentwood |
|
Jason |
O’SHEA |
|
Co-Founder, Wipe Away Those Tears. For charitable services to Terminally and Seriously Ill Children in Essex |
Brentwood |
|
Marcus Eldon |
ROBERTS |
|
Director, Policy and Strategy, Association of Police and Crime Commissioners. For services to Public Safety and to the Victims of Addiction |
Colchester |
|
Benjamin Patrick Huw |
SIMPSON |
|
Lately Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Sea-Kit International. For services to the Maritime Industry |
Colchester |
|
Bolaji Olubusola |
SOFOLUWE |
|
Co-Founder, Group MD Enterprise, Training and Knowledge Group. For services to Sustainable Business Growth, to Female Entrepreneurs and to International Trade |
Colchester |
Medal of the Order of the British Empire
|
Kenneth David |
COWEN |
|
Founder and lately Chief Executive Officer, School of Hard Knocks Charity. For services to Sport and to Charity |
Braintree |
|
Michael Francis |
DAVIES |
|
Founder, Rayleigh Town Museum. For services to Heritage in Rayleigh, Essex |
Rayleigh |
|
Alan John |
FROST |
|
For services to the community in Abberton, Colchester, Essex |
Colchester |
|
Paul Ray |
HANNAFORD |
|
For services to the community in Romford, London Borough of Havering |
Brentwood |
|
Michael |
KEOGH |
|
Director, Springfield Youth Club, London Borough of Hackney. For services to Young People in London |
Brentwood |
|
Louise Maria |
LEES-BARRETT |
|
Founder, REACH Equine Therapy. For services to Disabled People in Essex |
Brentwood |
|
Margaret |
LINES |
|
For services to the community in Hatfield Heath, Essex |
Hatfield Heath |
|
Jacqueline Anita |
PELL |
|
Councillor, Braintree District Council. For services to Local Government and to the community in Halstead, Essex |
Halstead |
|
John David |
POLLEY |
|
For services to the Boxted Methodist Silver Band in Essex |
Colchester |
More About Honours
The Individual Honours system in the UK is designed to recognise people and who make a real difference to their community or in their field of work.
You can nominate someone for an Honour here >
You can find out more about Honours here >
View the full 2026 New Year Honours List on the Government website here >
About The Lord Lieutenant of Essex
His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Essex is Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst, appointed in 2017. She is His Majesty the King’s personal representative in the county.
The main duty of the Lord-Lieutenant is to uphold the dignity of the Crown in Essex, including encouraging voluntary service and benevolent organisations, helping to create a spirit of co-operation in the county, supporting business and industry and the social life of Essex.
The appointment is non-political and unpaid.
Find out more about the role of a Lord-Lieutenant and the Lieutenancy >
Find out about a Day in the Life of HM Lord-Lieutenant of Essex >
If you would like to invite HM Lord-Lieutenant of Essex to attend an event, please contact the Lieutenancy office here >
