Almost a dozen people across Lincolnshire are being recognised in the New Year’s Honours list for 2025. One of the names on the King’s New Year Honours List is Colin Woodford, who is a two-time world champion in wheelchair class table tennis.
Colin, who has Cerebral Palsy, helped set up the North East Lincolnshire Disability Sports Forum around 27 years ago, which he is still actively involved in to this day. The 69-year-old has been recognised with a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his services to disabled people and the community in the Grimsby area.
He told Lincolnshire Live: “I was shocked when I received the letter in the post, obviously I never even considered it or even thought about it, it was a big surprise. It is nice to be recognised for all of the voluntary work I do within the disability sports.” As the chairman of the forum, Colin organises a lot of the events and activities for the group, such as Tuesday sports clubs and annual trips to watch a football match.
Colin is well known for his table tennis skills and won the World Championship for his disability class in 1997 and then again in 2005. In addition to the Tuesday sports nights he organises, Colin also does table tennis coaching throughout the week and has had many students go on to win national titles as well.
Colin says he and one of his students, who is a six-time title winner, are currently visiting a range of primary schools in the area to help promote a more positive image of disability. He added that “all the sport keeps me going”.
Ron Westerman is also on the list and has been awarded an MBE (Members of the Order of the British Empire) for his services to sport in Lincolnshire. In 1986 Ron helped create the Midlincs County Youth Football League. He was formerly the chairman of another league which was mainly made up of teams across various villages and he decided to approach another league with plans of merging together after both groups “were struggling” with numbers.
Ron, of Doddington, said: “We started the Midlincs County Youth Football League in 1986 and we started with 75 teams which was an improvement. To say how much we have progressed, this season we started with 480 teams.” Speaking about his MBE, Ron said he was “shocked” and did not believe it at first.
He said: “When I first got the letter I pushed it to the side as I thought it was a scam but then I had a second look at it and realised. I was quite shocked as you read about these things and get the impression it doesn’t happen to ordinary people.”
He continued: “I just want to share this honour with so many people that have given up their time at weekends to look after kids with the junior football. There are so many wonderful people out there giving up their time and a lot of it is appreciated but it can go unnoticed, and a lot of people give me support.
“I have been doing junior football now for 55 years and there is no way I could have done this without the support of my family and the committee and so many people giving up their weekends.” Husband and wife, Veronica and Jonathan Compton, are also receiving BEMs for their services to HM Prison and Probation Service.
The pair work as chaplaincy volunteers at HMP Morton Hall in Lincolnshire. On behalf of her and her husband, Victoria said: “When the two letters from the Cabinet Office arrived, I wondered if we’d done something wrong! But it was a lovely surprise and we’re more than delighted that we both got nominated.
“We volunteer at the prison because we want to do something for God and prisoners. These awards reflect not on us but on the incredible privilege we’ve had to serve the prison community, and it’s truly humbling to receive this acknowledgment.
“Thank you to the governors, prison officers and chaplaincy staff for being so helpful and accommodating us over the past 36 years.” A prison service spokesperson added: “Veronica and Jonathan Compton’s decades of dedicated service to HMP Morton Hall are truly inspiring, and these awards are a fitting recognition of their extraordinary commitment.
“Their selflessness and unwavering support have made a lasting impact on the lives of countless prisoners and detainees, and we are proud to celebrate their achievements.” Robert Adams, the vice-chair of Spurn Bird Observatory Trust, has also received a BEM for his services to local wildlife protection.
Robert Adams, vice-chair of Spurn Bird Observatory
(Image: Spurn Bird Observatory)
Robert, of Crowle, near Scunthorpe, says the award came as “a big surprise.” He recalled: “It was about a month ago when we were in Singapore visiting family and I received an email and it just said ‘we are having difficulty contacting you’ and I couldn’t read any more than that.” He spotted it said New Year’s Honours List in the headline but “thought it was a scam” until his wife told him to check it.
For more than 50 years Robert has been visiting the Spurn Bird Observatory near Hull, and has been on the committee since 2010. Each year, officials can use the observatory to see migrating birds that have travelled thousands of miles, including from as far away as Serbia, Russia and Scandanavia.
As a conservationist, Robert helps count birds and collect data which is used to make decisions on the wildlife, as the location is just one of 22 bird observatories in the UK. Robert added: “It’s our job to improve the habitats for these birds and provide accommodation and facilities for visiting bird watchers.”
After spending several years of being chair, Robert feels he has helped “reshape” the organisation and made it stronger. This includes through the annual Spurn Migration Festival that takes place in September.
Also on the honours list is Chief Constable, Christopher Haward. Formerly of Lincolnshire Police, Christopher has been awarded the King’s Police Medal. In response to this, the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Marc Jones, said: “I am delighted that Chris has received the honour and it is just reward for the decades of his life that he has dedicated to protecting and serving the public.”
Below is the full list of all the people living and working in Lincolnshire who have been named in the 2025 New Year Honours list.
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Kerry-Anne Cooper. Police Chaplin, Hertfordshire Constabulary. For services to the community in Hemel Hempstead. (Alford, Lincolnshire)
Raymond William Newell. Managing Director, Oakwell Management Services. For services to Industry in the Midlands. (Lincoln, Lincolnshire)
Ronald Harry Westerman. Founder, Midlincs County Youth Football League. For services to Sport. (Lincoln, Lincolnshire)
Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)
Robert Adams. Lately Chair, Spurn Bird Observatory Trust. For services to Local Wildlife Protection. (Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire)
Jonathan Compton. Chaplaincy Volunteer, HM Prison Morton Hall. For services to HM Prison and Probation Service. (Lincoln, Lincolnshire)
Veronica Mary Compton. Chaplaincy Volunteer, HM Prison Morton Hall. For services to HM Prison and Probation Service. (Lincoln, Lincolnshire)
Dr Peter John Dawson. For services to the community in Lincolnshire. (Lincoln, Lincolnshire)
Margaret Wilkinson. For services to the community in Holton-Le-Clay, Lincolnshire. (Grimsby, Lincolnshire) –
Colin Woodford. Chair and Facilitator, North East Lincolnshire Disability Sports Forum. For services to Disabled People and to the community in North East Lincolnshire. (Grimsby, Lincolnshire)
KING’S POLICE MEDAL (KPM)
Christopher Haward. Chief Constable, Lincolnshire Police / National Police Chiefs’ Council. (Lincolnshire)