King's Birthday Honours awards in Gloucestershire

Peter Best has been awarded an BEM for services to Steam and Heritage Railways

A railway enthusiast, a children's author and a former UCAS chief executive are among those on the King's Birthday Honours list across Gloucestershire.

Peter Best, 69, from Tetbury, has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to Steam and Heritage Railways.

He has contributed to the maintenance of Heritage Railways, which play a key role in the UK’s important leisure industries.

Clare Marchant, 51, former UCAS chief executive said she feels "hugely privileged" to be given a damehood.

Dame Marchant, who is now the vice-chancellor of the University of Gloucestershire, left UCAS in September last year after more than six years in charge.

She was at at the helm in August 2020 when the difficulty around grading led to thousands of A-level students having their results downgraded from school estimates by an algorithm, before a U-turn was made.

She said she was most proud of her work at UCAS on putting apprenticeships on an equal footing with traditional undergraduate degrees.

On being awarded Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, she said: “It’s all about team at the end of the day, so there are a load of people to say thank you to when the time is right.”

Clare Marchant says she feels "hugely privileged" to have received a Damehood

Writer Jamila Gavin has been awarded an MBE for services to Children's Literature.

She has written over 40 novels and short stories spanning 40 years, with her most recent work telling the story of how India contributed to Britain's efforts in World War One.

"It's completely surreal," Ms Gavin said. "I've been publishing since 1979 and I've always had my agenda for wanting children to see their mirror image."

Kim Roberts, 65, CEO of Health Exercise Nutrition for the Really Young, has been award an MBE for her work tackling challenges of inequality and childhood obesity.

Writer Jamila Gavin said being awarded an MBE was "surreal"

Robert Griffin, 75, founder and chief executive of Tomcat UK has been awarded an MBE for services to Engineering Innovation and to People with Disabilities.

His son Thomas, who died 14 years ago, was born with Angelman's syndrome, a disability typified by learning difficulties, sleep disturbance and poor coordination.

Following his first trike creation for Thomas, Mr Griffin has worked tirelessly over 23 years to take on the numerous mobility challenges faced by individuals both old and young to make certain that cycling is accessible to all.

Mr Griffin said he was "thrilled" about the award that was part of Thomas' legacy.

"When people have a disability it's so easy for them to be written off," he said. "But give the human spirit half the chance then they will absolutely fly."

Robert Griffin said he was "thrilled" to be awarded an MBE

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) has been awarded to:

• Elizabeth Pitman, Lately Non-Executive Board Member and Government Reviewer, Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for services to the Government.

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) has also been awarded to:

• Ally Castle, for services to Inclusively and Diversity in Broadcasting.

• Caroline Gould, Founder of Vale Wildlife Hospital, for services to Hedgehog Welfare.

• Nigel Oatway, Access Manager, for his services to Transport.

• Susan Middleton, His Majesty's Verderer, for services to Forestry.

• Laura Robbins, Chair of The Royal Air Force Widows' Association, for voluntary service to RAF Widows.

• Nicola Seckler, Senior Employee Relations Manager, HM Prison and Probation Services, for services to Employee Relations, particularly Employees Living with a Terminal Illness.

• Nicola Wynne, Director of Development, St Paul's Cathedral, for services to Heritage and to Charity, particularly the Remember Me Project.

British Empire Medal (BEM) has also been awarded to:

• Brian Eastoe for services to Woodcarving and to Charity.

• Pauline Farman for services to the community in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

• David Paynter for services to Wildlife Conservation