The Honours System

Honours System

The Honours System offers public recognition to people in all walks of life and all sections of society who have given quite exceptional service and made a difference in their community or in the country. There are several different types of award, each one recognising a different type of contribution (click here).

The British Honours System is one of the oldest in the world. It has evolved over 650 years and today recognises merit, gallantry and service. Honours lists are published twice a year at New Year and in mid-June on the date of The King’s official birthday. (Please scroll down to see the names of the Surrey residents recognised in the latest Honours list.)

Anyone can receive an award if they reach the required standard of merit or service, and honours lists contain a wide variety of people from different backgrounds. Anyone can nominate someone for an award but it is important to note that longevity in a position is not sufficient in itself and that honours are not usually awarded after someone has retired.

Access to the required form and further information can be obtained by clicking here. 

To support a nomination, it is essential to source and submit several strong letters of recommendation, from people who know at first hand about the work that has been done by the individual being nominated.

It is important to recognise that a nomination can take around 18 months to go through the vetting process, from the point it is submitted to the Cabinet Office. The fact of nomination should be kept strictly confidential as sadly a relatively few people can be honoured and it is best to avoid disappointment. If a nomination proves unsuccessful. it is sometimes possible for the Lord-Lieutenant to arrange some other form of recognition, as a ‘thank you’ for exceptional service.

Please download a copy of the exclusive Surrey Lieutenancy Honours Leaflet here:



Awards for Surrey residents

New Year Honours 2024

Dame Commander of the 0rder of the British Empire (DBE)

Dr Margaret Aderin MBE of Guildford, for services to Science Education and to Diversity

Knight Bachelor

Ronald Dennis CBE of Virginia Water, for services to Industry and to charity.

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Charlotte Beardmore of Camberley, for services to Radiography

Dr Denise Chaffer of Epsom, for services to Patient Safety

Mark Cutifani of Cobham, for services to Investment in the Global Mining Industry

Andrew Scattergood of Bookham, for services to Heritage and to Charity

Dr Charles Woodburn of Farnham, for services to International Trade and Skills Development

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Camilla Bowry of Oxted for services to Young People, to Education and to the Environment

Millie Bright of Redhill, for services to Association Football

Andrew Dixon of East Horsley for services to Prisoners and Ex offenders, to Property Tax reform and to Entrepreneurship

Gordon Hickman of Godalming for services to Animal Health and voluntary service to Sport

Carol Hui of Godalming for services to Tourism

Elizabeth Hutton of Woking, for services to Education and Prevention of stillbirths

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Christopher Norman of Dorking for services to the Business and Charitable Sectors

Iain Reeve of Godalming for services to Rail Aid Ukraine

Dorothy Wagstaff of Virginia Water for services to Charity

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)

Valerie Beynon of Cobham for services to the community in Cobham

Dennis Brown of Chertsey for services to the community in Runnymede

Lee Doyle of Sunbury- on – Thames for services to Sport and the community in Brentford

Rachael Lake of Reigate for services to the community in Walton- on Thames

Doreen Peck of Ashtead for services to the community in Ashtead

Jill Trout of Dockenfield, for services to the community in Dockenfield

Timothy Way of Westcott for services to the community in Westcott

Gwendoline Wickham of Dorking for services to charity and to the community in London