MP, Paralympian and campaigners to get New Year Honours

An MP is among those from the south of England to be recognised in the New Year Honours list, alongside an array of campaigners and a Paralympian.

Anneliese Dodds, who has represented Oxford East since 2017 and was Sir Keir Starmer’s former development minister until she resigned in February, has been made a dame.

Dodds, 47, said she was “delighted” to have received the award, adding: “It’s always about the team.”

Others recognised include Paralympian Frankie Allen, from Wallingford, Oxfordshire, and Colin and Marie Wright, from Aldershot, Hampshire, for their services to women’s gymnastics.

Meanwhile, Frankie Allen, 23, an adaptive rower who was on the gold medal-winning team for Great Britain at the Paralympics in 2024, has been recognised for her services to disability sport and to improving access to sport for young people.

She previously told the BBC that the pressure of competing and being part of Disability Sport is “a privilege and a good thing”.

Sara Russell, principal and chief executive of Peter Symonds College, in Hampshire, will become an OBE for her services to further education.

Ms Russell said she was “deeply humbled and incredibly proud” to be awarded the honour.

Meanwhile, married couple Colin and Marie Wright will both be appointed MBEs for services to women’s gymnastics after founding the Rushmoor Gymnastics Academy in Aldershot.

Ms Wright said they were “completely overwhelmed” but glad they were both getting honoured together.

“We did not expect it as we just love what we do,” she said.

Peter Boyd-Smith, 78, from Hampshire, will also become an MBE for his services to British Maritime History and to the community in Southampton.

The maritime historian opened Cobwebs in 1975, a shop in specialising in ocean liner memorabilia and the Titanic, although it closed in August.

And Helen Cooke will be appointed a CBE for her services to special educational needs and disabilities as the chief executive and founder of MyPlus, which helps disabled people find work.

“I set up the business 20 years ago on 1 January 2006 as I wanted to make a difference, even if it was to one person, so this will be a great way to celebrate this milestone,” she said.

In Dorset, Simon Boyd, managing director of Christchurch-based REIDsteel, will become an OBE in recognition to his work in British steel manufacturing.

“For decades I have been doing my best to try and protect our industry and to the bring to the surface the real issues facing UK businesses,” he said.

And Louise Fetigan, 43, from Wareham, has been appointed an MBE for services to young people in Dorset after she founded the charity Little Troopers in 2011.

It supports children with parents in the armed forces by providing resources to help ease the challenges of military life.

“This award is so much bigger than little old me, it is giving recognition that Little Troopers is needed and the work we are doing is impactful,” she said.

Stuart Skinner, 45, from Weymouth, will be appointed an MBE for services to mental health.

He also carries out challenges to raise awareness of mental health and loneliness, with one being to reach the highest point in all 15 national parks.

“I will be thanking a lot of people though as this honour belongs to the people who have supported me,” he said.

Samantha Everard, 49, from Bournemouth, will become an MBE for services to people with disabilities in Dorset after founding charity Support and Mentoring Enabling Entrepreneurship (SAMEE).

It helps disabled people develop employability skills and explore self-employment and she said the honour was “the best gift” to share with her “incredible team”.