Music guru and D-Day veteran named in New Year's Honours

[dutchman]

Music stalwarts, war veterans and company directors are among people across Coventry and Warwickshire named in the Queen's New Year's Honours list.



A total of 18 people from across the region will soon be showing off their MBE, OBE or British Empire Medal with pride after being named among the 1,100 or so to be honoured.

Leading the way for Coventry is music historian and 2-Tone guru Pete Chambers who has been recognised for his voluntary service to music in the city.

Pete, who has written the Telegraph’s regular Backbeat column for more than a decade, is also curator at Coventry Music Museum and has been awarded a British Empire Medal.

He said: “If someone had ever told me I would end up on the New Year’s Honours list I wouldn’t have believed them.

“It is incredible and life-changing for me. I have always doubted it when people have said nice things about me, so this is really special.

“Especially with how much I love Coventry and its music, so to get the award for services to music in Coventry makes me so proud.

“I want to thank Julie who has helped me with all this and all the people that have written citations, which I have been able to read now. It’s amazing how kind and loving people are.”

Also receiving a British Empire Medal in the New Year’s Honours list is D-Day veteran Dennis Davison.



The 92-year-old has received his honour for services to Second World War commemoration and memorialisation and setting up the charity, Normandy Day UK.

A third Coventry recipient of a British Empire Medal is teaching assistant Keelie Jayne Hill.

The Sherbourne Fields School member of staff is also a coach for the Sherbourne Stars cheerleading team, which is made up of children with special needs and disabilities.

Her medal is in recognition of her services to youngsters with special educational needs and disabilities.

On the list of MBEs is an entrepreneur from Bedworth who has spent ten years providing support and qualifications to hard-to-reach and challenging young people.

David Cowell, who was born and raised in Alice Close, has become a Member of the British Empire for his services to vocational education.

Joining him on the list of MBEs is Michael Anthony Breitheamh Judge, from Rugby, for services to charity, Coventry University and the community in Dunchurch, as well as Ian Eva, an apprentice manager at Jaguar Land Rover.

Ian, from Solihull, has been named for his services to vocational education.

Another representative of Warwickshire in the New Year’s Honours list is Southam’s Sarah Louisa Goodall, deputy director of the National Crime Agency, who has been honoured for services to law enforcement.

The Queen’s Police Medal has also been awarded to the Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police, Martin Jelley.