Campaigners recognised in New Years Honours List

Loyd Grossman, who lives in Gloucestershire, has been knighted for his services to heritage

Broadcaster and entrepreneur Loyd Grossman has said he is "utterly thrilled" to have been awarded a knighthood in the New Year Honours list.

The Gloucestershire resident is being honoured for services to heritage, and joins many other campaigners in the West in having their work recognised by The King.

These included domestic violence campaigners Carole Gould, from Wiltshire, and Nick Gazzard from Gloucestershire, who are recognised for their services to support violence against women after their daughters were murdered.

They have been nominated alongside Bristol knife crime campaigner Desmond Brown, who is recognised for his work to tackle youth violence and 100-year-old Roy Gibson, leader of multiple space agencies.

Sir Loyd, who is renowned for presenting Masterchef between 1990-2000, and for his eponymous cooking sauces range, has been knighted for his services to heritage.

The 74-year-old, who lives in Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire, is the chairman of The Royal Parks in London.

Desmond Brown, a campaigner who works with young people affected by knife crime in Bristol has been appointed an MBE for his services to the community in Avon and Somerset.

Desmond Brown has been awarded an MBE for his work to tackle knife crime in Bristol

Mr Brown is the founder of Growing Futures UK and Vice Chair of the Independent Scrutiny of Police Powers Panel.

The charity works with young people and school exclusion students to help them discuss their fears with parents and teachers.

Mr Brown said "This is an honour for me and my family, but more than that, it recognises the importance of the voice of the community in delivering equity and justice for everyone. That work continues."

Det Supt Gary Haskins says it's a "true honour" to be awarded the King's Police medal

The detective who led the case into the murders of 16-year-old Max Dixon and 15-year-old Mason Rist in south Bristol in January 2024 has been recognised for his service to policing.

Det Supt Gary Haskins, of Avon and Somerset Police's Major Crime Investigation Team has received a King's Policing Medal (KPM).

He said: "It's extremely humbling and a true honour to be awarded the King's Police Medal.

"I grew up in Bristol, so it's been a privilege to have spent my entire policing career in the Avon and Somerset area. All I've ever wanted to do is make a difference, so to be recognised in this way is completely unexpected.

"For me, this honour is a testament to the dedicated and caring people I've worked with and alongside over the past 28 years."

Carole Gould (left) with daughter Ellie, describes being awarded an OBE as "bittersweet"

Carole Gould, from Wiltshire, and Julie Devey, from Somerset, were appointed OBEs for their work co-founding the group Killed Women after their daughters - Ellie Gould, 17, and Poppy Devey Waterhouse, 24 - were killed.

"It's a great honour, [but] obviously bittersweet, because If I'm totally honest, I don't want any of it, all I want is Ellie back," said Ms Gould.

"We hope going forward that the disparity in sentences can be levelled up and victims of other domestic violence crimes can get proper justice and support where support is needed."

"Receiving an OBE is an incredible privilege and honour," says Nick Gazzard

Nick Gazzard, father of murdered Hollie Gazzard, has been awarded an OBE for services to tackling violence against women.

He set up the Hollie Gazzard Trust after her death in 2014 and has dedicated his life's work to helping those affected by domestic abuse and stalking.

"Receiving an OBE is an incredible privilege and an honour. I'm truly humbled to have received this news, but it is a recognition I share with everyone who has supported the Hollie Gazzard Trust over the last decade," he said.

"Of course, the driving force is Hollie. I need to say a special thank you to her.

"We didn't want her to be another statistic and our aim was to use her story to help others avoid what she went through."

John Hardy is recognised for his work to support blind veterans

John Hardy, a campaigner raising awareness of accessibility for blind people, has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the veteran community.

Mr Hardy, a former veteran, has been awarded for his work volunteering for Blind Veterans UK and for his volunteer work at the Bridgwater Community Hub.

"It's a really nice feeling to be recognised for the work that I do," said Mr Hardy.

"I was particularly honoured because it was in recognition of the work that I have done with Blind Veterans and other veteran communities, and that means a lot to me as a veteran."

Jane Jackson was appointed MBE for her services to older people in Bristol.

Jane Jackson, who founded the Bristol Grandparent's Support Group in 2007, was appointed a MBE in the New Year's Honours List.

She established the group after becoming estranged from her granddaughter and has been recognised for her services to older people in Bristol.

In 2023, she installed a bench on the Bristol Downs to help people remember estranged grandparents.

Nicola and Neil Halford from Somerset who founded the children's charity Time is Precious, have been appointed as MBEs for fundraising for children with an illness in the south west of England

The couple set up the charity in 2011 in memory of their five-year-old son Ben who died from a brain tumour in 2010.

Roy Gibson, aged 100, receives a British Empire Medal (BEM) having been the first director general of the European Space Agency.

Lucy Driver, executive headteacher at St Paul's Nursery School and Children's Centre, Bristol, has been appointed an OBE for her services to early years education.

She said she did not open the letter for two weeks because she thought it was a bill, and was "surprised" and "humbled" when she realised what it was.

Ms Driver lost her mother on Christmas Eve but was able to tell her about the award before she died.