Thirteen alumni and honorary graduates of the University of Exeter received awards in the 2023 King’s Birthday Honours last month. The honours system marks the extraordinary contributions and service of people across the UK and we’re very proud of all the members of our community who have been recognised in this way.
A huge congratulations to the following:
- Professor Sir John Bell, GBE, CH HonFREng, PMedSci (Hon DSc, 2015)
- Regius Professor of Medicine at The University of Oxford
- Recognised as a Companion of Honour for services to Medicine, Medical Research, the Life Science Industry and to Public Health
- Sir Robin Budenberg, CBE (Law, 1980)
- Chair at the The Crown Estate
- Awarded the title of Knight Bachelor for services to the Economy
- Peter Farr (Politics, 1984)
- Head of Civil Law Policy at the Ministry of Justice
- OBE for services to Civil Justice
- Peter Godden (Geography, 2006)
- Regional Manager for Family Action
- MBE for services to disadvantaged people and to the community in Bristol, particularly during Covid-19
- Professor Iain Gray, CBE, CEng, FREng, FRAes, FRDE (Hon DEng, 2012)
- Director of Aerospace at Cranfield University
- Awarded the title of Knight Bachelor for services to the Aerospace Industry
- Paula Hay-Plumb (Maths, 1980)
- Independent Non-Executive Board Member at The Crown Estate
- OBE for services to the Public Sector
- Imogen Joss (Arabic & Islamic Studies, 1985)
- Chair of Grant Thornton UK LLP’s Partnership Governance Board
- MBE for services to the community in Gloucestershire
- Sir Ben Okri, OBE, FRSL (Hon DLitt, 2004)
- Poet and novelist
- Awarded the title of Knight Bachelor for services to Literature
- Dr Simon Robert Pender (MA Applied Security and Strategy, 2017)
- Deputy Director at the Cabinet Office
- OBE for for services to National Security
- Ron Richards (Economic & Social History, 1971 and a PGCE in History, 1972)
- Education Consultant at Ron Richards Education Consultancy and secretary at the South West Volleyball Association
- MBE for services to Volleyball and to the community in South West England
- Clare Scherer (Engineering, 1985)
- Chief Executive Officer at the Naval Children’s Charity
- MBE for services to Royal Navy Families
- Sir Mark Thompson (Hon LLD, 2008)
- Chairman of the Board at Ancestry LLC
- Awarded the title of Knight Bachelor for services to Media
- Megan Bick (Russian, 1984) featured on the Overseas and International King’s Birthday Honours List
- Trustee, British Emergency Action in Russia and the Republics and a Trustee of The BEARR Trust
- MBE for services to Civil Society Development in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
Two members of the University of Exeter academic community were also recognised. Professor Pascale Aebischer who led a major UK-wide research project to mitigate the impact of coronavirus on society, law, health, and culture was awarded an MBE, and Professor John Newton received an OBE for his services to public health. Andrew Haldane FAcSS FRS FRSA, who is an Honorary Professor at our Business School, was also awarded an CBE for services to the Economy and Public Policy.
If you’ve received an award, prize, or title recently do let us know via alumni@exeter.ac.uk as we always like to celebrate your successes and achievements.