An Olympic champion and the man who led Leicester’s response to Covid-19 are among those recognised in the 2025 New Year Honours list. Leading the way for Leicestershire in the King’s honours is Professor Paul Steven Monks from Leicester who is made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) for his services to Science in Government as Director General and Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Two prominent Leicester figures have been awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in this year’s list. Former Leicester City Council Public Health Director Professor Ivan Browne DL, who steered the city through the longest coronavirus lockdown of anywhere in the county, is honoured as is Blue Cross former Chair Timothy Henry Ralph Porter. They have been recognised for their services to Public Health and Animal Welfare, respectively.
The honours come in a remarkable year for British sport, with Team GB securing 65 medals at the Paris Olympics and ParalympicsGB bringing home an impressive 124 medals. Reflecting this sporting success, several local athletes are among the recipients.
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Nine people from across Leicestershire and Rutland have been awarded MBEs. Among them are Paralympic athlete David Steven Ellis from Loughborough who won gold in the men’s PTVI event at the 2024 Summer Paralympics and rower Lauren Henry from Lutterworth who took home a gold as part of the quadruple sculls teams. Stanley Rupert Brathwaite from Oakham is also recognised for his services to supporting Royal Air Force personnel and their families.
Meanwhile, Professor David Meredydd Lloyd from Leicester has been recognised for his services to Surgery at Leicester’s hospitals, while One Roof Leicester CEO Salma Bibi Ravat receives her honour for tackling homelessness in the city.
The list of MBE recipients also includes Louise Diane Mckiernan from Coalville for services to Disabled People, Luke Ian Pollard from Markfield for Paratriathlon, and Marks & Spencer managing director Richard Price from Market Harborough for services to fashion.
Making history in their own way are two Leicester residents awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM). Hemandra Hindocha, Postmaster at Westcotes Post Office, was born in Uganda in 1951 to Indian parents.
Hemandra Hindocha BEM is one of those honoured
(Image: Leicester Mercury)
Mr Hindocha moved to India at 17 to study accountancy before joining his parents in the UK in 1973 following their expulsion from Uganda by dictator Idi Amin. After working as a garage assistant, for Lancashire County Council and as a driving instructor, he became postmaster of Regent Square Post Office in Northampton on June 26, 1981, running the branch for seven years.
Adding to the city’s celebrations, Betty Cobley receives the BEM for her charitable service as a volunteer at the Royal Voluntary Service Leicester Royal Infirmary Café, while Kathryn Leigh Kelly, who leads Leicestershire’s Lionheart Educational Trust from her Doncaster base, receives an MBE for services to Education.
Former Leicester West MP Patricia Hewitt, who served the constituency between 1997 and 2010, has been awarded an OBE for her healthcare work as chair of NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board, while former Uppingham School pupil Stephen Fry has been knighted for services to mental health awareness, conservation, and charity.
Celebrating the honours, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer praised the recipients: “Each and every day, ordinary people go out and do extraordinary things for their communities. They represent the very best of the UK and that core value of service which I put at the centre of everything this government does.”
Former Leicester MP Patricia Hewitt has also made the King’s New Year’s honours list
(Image: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
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