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 2025

Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Ms Ruth CAIRNIE of Epsom – For services to Industry

Knights Bachelor

Mr Noel QUINN of Esher-  For services to Financial Services and Net Zero

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire

Dr Jalal BAGHERLI of Woking–  For services to the Semiconductor Sector

Judge Sehba Haroon STOREY of Whyteleafe– For Service to Diversity and Inclusion

Officers of the Order of the British Empire

Dr Thomas Bernard David BALCHIN of Lingfield- For services to Functional Rehabilitation after Stroke

Mr Ben Commins of Caterham-For services to Early Years and Education

Ms Wendy Joan MARTIN of Banstead- For services to Consumer Safety and Business

Ms Seema MISRA of Bisley- For services to Justice

Mrs Michelle RIDDALLS of Woking– For services to Consumer Health

Members of the Order of the British Empire

Mr. Nicholas James BIRD of Epsom- For services to Paediatric Oncology Patients and Research Advocacy

Mr Robin DALY of Dorking – For services to Cancer Patients

Ms Jane Anna-Louise FRANKLAND of Dorking- For services to Women in Cyber Security

 Mrs Zoi HARRIS of Lingfield- For services to Education

Mrs Vivien Mary JONES of Lingfield –  For services to the Nystagmus Community

Ms Elizabeth JORDAN of Guildford- For services to cycling

Ms Erica LOCKHART of Leatherhead – For services to Adult Social Care

Mr George Grant MACDONALD of Outwood – For services to the Economy and Silversmithing Industry

Mr Christian MCBRIDE of Leatherhead – For services to Business and Philanthropy

Mrs Caroline REDMAN LUSHER of Tilford – For services to Charity

Mr James ROBERTS of Walton on the Hill– For services to engineering and entrepreneurship

Mrs Caroline TAYLOR of Ashtead- For services to supporting children in Brazil

Mr William James TONER of Esher- For services to Hospitality

Mrs Janet TROWSE of Bagshot- For services to the Railway and to Menopause Awareness in the Workplace

Mr Richard Andrew WILSON of Chertsey – For services to the Landscape and Garden Design Industry and heritage

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire

Mr Malcolm CARTER of Hindhead – For services to the community in Haslemere, Surrey

Mrs Julie CHARALAMBOUS Mickleham – For services to Elderly and Disabled People in Dorking, Surrey

Mr Robin Brian CLEMENTS of Caterham – For services to the community in South East Surrey

Mrs Gail Heather CRAMP of Shepperton –For services young people

Mrs Wendy HOBBS of Walton on Thames- For services to charity

Mr Marek REGAN of West Ewell –  For services to Community Sport

Mrs Susan Caroline RODGER of Thames Ditton- For services to the community in Thames Ditton, Surrey

Mrs Suzanne Amanda RUGGLES of West Byfleet –For services to patients and carers in the NHS

Mrs Myfanwy Mair TOTHILL of Great Bookham – For services to Homeless People in Surrey

Birthday Honours 2024

Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB)

Peter Schofield CB of Redhill, for Public Service

Knights Bachelor (KBE)

Richard Greenhalgh of East Molesey, for services to Education

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Dr Joanne Bray of Epsom, for services to the Automotive Industry

Katharine Davies of Guildford, for services to Government Security

Alan Lenton of Epsom, for services to Veterans and their Families

Timothy Mordan of Epsom, for Public Service

Timothy Oliver of Esher, for services to Local Government

David Rowe of Chiddingfold, for services to the Armed Forces Community

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Bryony Chapman of Thursley, for services to the Costal and Marine Environment

Emily King of Haslemere, for services to Refugee Resettlement

Duncan Nicholls of Warlingham, for services to Aviation Safety and Transport

Lisa O’Keefe of Addlestone, for services to Sport

Dr Richard Torbett of Woking, for services to Life Sciences and to the Pharmaceutical Industry

Ian Wilson of Thames Ditton, for services to Education

Victoria Woodhall of Redhill for services to Cancer Care and Cancer Research for Children

James Woodhall of Redhill, services to Cancer Care and Cancer Research for Children

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)

Selwyn Boothe of Staines-Upon-Thames, for services to Education

Eric Champion of Sunbury-on-Thames, for services to Culture in Spelthorne

Lynda Jones of Woking, for voluntary service to the British Red Cross

Lucas Maxwell of Betchworth, for services to Education

Dr Christian Wilcock of Warlingham, for services to the Community in the London Borough of Croydon