Twenty four people from Essex were awarded New Year Honours.
A senior Essex police officer, a talking newspaper manager and two family members of a murdered backpacker are recognised in the New Year honours list.
They are among 24 people from the county who received an honour in King Charles III’s New Year honours list.
Kevin Macey, Head of Essex Police’s Serious Case Review team, receives the British Empire Medal (BEM), for his services to policing. He joined Essex Police in 1976 and has dealt with more than 50 murders and attempted murders as well as many other serious cases.
Michael Ballinger, treasurer and studio manager for Wickford and District Talking Newspaper for the Blind also receives the BEM for his services to the community in the area.
Richard Gregory is also awarded the BEM for his work to improve the lives of disadvantaged adults and young people with special educational needs in Basildon.
Two members of the family of Wickford backpacker Grace Millane have been appointed Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). Grace was murdered in New Zealand in 2018. Her mother Gillian and cousin Hannah O’Callaghan founded the charity Love Grace to help victims of domestic abuse.
Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst, Lord-Lieutenant of Essex, the King’s personal representative in the county, said:
“The range of services represented in these awards is once again a powerful reminder of the power of community and the difference that an individual can make.
“Without people such as those who are honoured, our lives, our county and country would be much the poorer. But these honours reflect and recognise only a small part of the huge contribution made by many who work tirelessly for their communities.
“I would encourage anyone who knows someone who makes a big difference to others in their community work, to nominate them for an honour which recognises the contribution and the extraordinary effort made by exceptional people in Essex.”
The King’s New Years Honours List 2024: The Essex List
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Prof. Michaela BENZEVAL, Professor of Longitudinal Research and Director of Understanding Society, University of Essex. For services to Social Science. Frinton-on-Sea.
Michelle JARMAN-HOWE, Chief Operating Officer of Prisons, HM Prison and Probation Service. For Public Service.
Dr Mala RAO, OBE, Senior Clinical Fellow, Imperial College London. For services to Public Health, the NHS, and to Equality and Diversity. Colchester.
Peter SHILTON OBE, For services to Association Football and to the Prevention of Gambling Harm. Colchester.
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Christopher JOLLY, Publisher, Jolly Phonics. For services to Education. Chigwell.
Gillian MILLANE, Co-Founder, Love Grace. For services to Charitable Fundraising and Tackling Violence Against Women. Billericay.
Hannah O’CALLAGHAN, Co-Founder, Love Grace. For services to Charitable Fundraising and Tackling Violence Against Women.
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Sara BROWNE, For services to the Arts and to the community in Southend-on-Sea, Westcliff-on-Sea.
Christopher HUNTER GORDON, Chairman, Resources for Autism. For services to People with Autism and their Families, Colchester.
Dr. Joseph GALLIANO, Director and Co-Founder, Queer Britain. For services to Heritage, to Charity and to Diversity and Inclusion, Coggeshall.
Donna McWILLIAMS, Deputy Group Co-ordinator, Stepping Stones Play and Learn. For services to Early Years and Special Needs Education, Colchester.
Anne WHITE, Volunteer Director, Thurrock Lifestyle Solutions Community Interest Company. For services to People with Impairments, Purfleet-on-Thames.
Jonathan WHITE, Economist, Department of Health and Social Care. For services to Social Care Policy, Southend-on-Sea.
Claire WHITING, Founder, Two2One. For services to Bereaved People in Southend-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea.
Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)
Moses AYOOLA, Director, Estates and Facilities, Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. For services to Leadership in the NHS, Grays
Michael BALLINGER, For services to the community in Wickford and District, Dunmow.
Moira BROCK, Founder and Principal, La Danse Fantastique. For services to Young People in Basildon, Basildon.
Christopher EATON, For services to the community in Wakes Colne, Essex. Colchester.
Robert ERITH, TD DL, For services to the Environment in Dedham Vale, Essex and Suffolk, Bures.
Marc GRAYSTON, Chief Instructor, Maru Karate Kai. For services to Disadvantaged Young People and to the community in Basildon, Basildon.
Richard GREGORY, For services to the community in Basildon, Basildon.
Kevin MACEY, Head of Major Crime Review, Essex Police. For services to Policing, Chelmsford.
Brian MOONEY, Member, Common Council, City of London Corporation. For services to the community in the City of London and in Coggeshall, Coggeshall.
Pauline YOUNG (Holden), Lately Watch Manager, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service. For services to the community in Great Baddow, Great Baddow.
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 >
