A HOST of people across the News & Mail area have been recognised in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list 2013.

In total 1,223 people have been recommended to the Queen for an award nationwide, with 1,068 candidates selected at BEM, MBE and OBE level, 286 at BEM, 535 at MBE and 247 at OBE.

The annual list is dominated by those involved in the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games, be it as participants, volunteers or organisers.

Fleet's David Peacop has been made an OBE for his services to the games. He was hailed as the 'mayor of the Olympic Park' after being head of logistics with games delivery partner, CLM.

Made up of CH2M Hill, Laing O'Rourke and Mace, the consortium achieved one of the most complex feats of programme management ever undertaken, turning a derelict and polluted wasteland of 670 acres into the Olympic Park in Stratford, East London, on time and to agreed budgets.

Mr Peacop works for Laing O’Rourke, one third of the CLM joint venture, which was the heartbeat of the operation for seven years, since planning began in 2005.

Meanwhile, Karen Lacey, from Aldershot, was also made an MBE for her role in the Olympic and Paralympic games. It follows her job as the 2012 Nations and Regions Group co-ordinator for the South East, as part of the Government Olympic Executive.

In other sports-related honours, an MBE was awarded to Michael Stanley Both, from Farnborough, who is the retired director of engineering and technical operations for RaceTech.

He was included in the list in recognition for his services to the economy. Mr Both, known as Mick, had spent almost 30 years in innovation in technology for horse racing worldwide.

The 60-year-old said: "I had no idea I had been nominated and accepted. It been an exceptional year for all sports, including horse racing, and to be part of that in some small way is truly an honour."

Fellow Farnborough man Professor John Marshall, was made an MBE for his services to ophthalmology. The professor works at the Institute of Opthalmology in association with Moorfields Eye Hospital, at the University of London.While those involved in the 2012 games were well-represented in the New Year's Honours list, 72% of the recipients are people who have undertaken outstanding work in their communities either in a voluntary or paid capacity.

One such recipient was Derek William Paitson Wood, made an MBE for services to the community in Farnborough. The war veteran from Cove has dedicated himself to the town for more than 60 years.

He was handed a Rushmoor Community Award in 2011 having long volunteered for a string of organisations including the Rushmoor Community Mediation Service and Farnborough Community Centre. And last year, the 87-year-old - who served during the Second World War - was selected to carry the Olympic torch through Fareham.

Meanwhile, a man from Rotherwick, near Hook, was rewarded for his work in police training - David Glasonbury was made an MBE after working as a specialist physical education adviser at the National Police College in Bramshill.

Phelim John Joseph Brady, deputy principal of Farnborough College of Technology, was also made an MBE. Mr Brady, from Guildford, was recognised for his services to further education following a 38-year career in teaching.

Mr Brady, 65, joined the college in 1982 as a sociology teacher but later went on to spearhead its state-of-the-art media department specialising in training a new generation of budding TV and radio stars.

He later became deputy principal at the college before retiring last year. Describing the moment he received his letter telling him of his MBE, Mr Brady said it was a tremendous honour and surprise.

"Of course, you're sworn to secrecy so to keep it from my family and friends was a real struggle," he added. "I can only thank all the wonderful people I have worked with all these years for putting my name forward. It means so much to me."

For more on this story, see this week's News & Mail, out on Thursday, January 3.

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