Story By dave king

Former President of Rotary in Great Britain & Ireland, John Minhinick, was ​among a number of Rotarians who were honoured in the New Year’s ​Honours List for their services to the community.

John, a member of Burntisland and Kinghorn Rotary Club on Scotland’s Firth of ​Forth, was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his services to the ​Parkinson’s Society in Fife.

A Rotarian for over 30 years, John was President of Rotary GB&I between 2012-​13. His late wife Sheila had Parkinson’s and lately John has been chairman of the ​Fife branch.

The Honours List comes out twice a year - once at New Year and a second time ​for the King’s official birthday in June.

The honours are awarded based on merit or on exceptional achievement or ​service and have been given out by monarchs since at least 1348, according to ​the Cabinet Office.

John Minhinick, Burntisland and Kinghorn Rotary Club

Two Rotarians from the same club were honoured in the list. Luton North ​Rotarian, Mostaque Koyes, has received an MBE.

A director of Community Interest Luton, he has received his award for services to ​the community in Luton. CIL has provided food to those experiencing financial ​difficulties and through the efforts of the charity, there has been a demonstrable ​impact in reducing unemployment in the town through the LETS Hub project.

Mostaque is an ardent Luton Town supporter, a community ambassador, and at ​the age of 38 was appointed Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire in 2021.

He wrote on Facebook: “I am deeply humbled to have been included in the New ​Years Honours List 2024.

“It is always great to hear about the amazing achievements of people from ​around the United Kingdom when announcements of this kind are made. I am ​truly humbled to be worthy of inclusion.

“I am thankful to all those closest to me. This includes the very many people who ​have supported my work, especially those from around Luton’s rich and diverse ​communities and businesses. I include here my family, as well as my amazing ​team at Community Interest Luton. My success is theirs too, and I accept this ​huge honour for all of us.”

Paul Denton, a member of the Luton North Rotary Club, has been awarded an ​OBE. A Past District Governor, he was awarded the Rotary Foundation ​Distinguished Service Award in 2021.

At Luton North Rotary Club, Paul has been involved with a project to install ​defibrillators in a number of areas across the District which includes ​Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, introducing new technology in the ​cancer unit at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital, providing a Fibroscanner for the ​Lister Hospital, as well as support for Keech Hospice Care during the pandemic.

During the pandemic, Paul headed projects to provide oxygen equipment for ​parts of India, raising money quickly from his contacts around the world.

In 2020 Paul led an application for a $1.25 million Rotary Foundation Global ​Grant for the international charity Mercy Ships to provide medical equipment – ​the largest grant sanctioned by The Rotary Foundation in its history.

Lesley Hastings, a member of the Rotary Club of Leeds, was awarded a BEM. She ​spent 15 years working for Childline, holding a directorial role with the children’s ​charity, The Market Place and an impressive career in education.

“It was astounding, I was very surprised,” she told the Yorkshire Evening Post. ​“I’ve been dying to tell my family.”

The honour was made for services to the community of Leeds. In a ​commendation, the Cabinet Office explained: “She has dedicated her working life ​to educating children in the most deprived areas of Leeds, further the life ​chances of disadvantaged children through excellent teaching practices, ​emotional support, and a high focus on child protection and safeguarding.”

The Reverend Chris Colledge, a member of Westbourne Rotary Club in Dorset, ​was awarded an MBE for services to the community in Bournemouth.

As chairman of Bournemouth in Bloom, Chris is a qualified watchkeeper at the ​coastguard station at Hengistbury Head, and chair of governors at Queens Park ​Academy School.

Chris told the Dorset Echo: “Words are insufficient to express the humility and ​gratitude for receiving the honour. 

“This especially means so much as since being unwell with a major mental ​breakdown in 2002, needing to be medically retired and consequently losing my ​home and livelihood, it has been a very challenging and hard journey to regain ​self-worth, respect, and dignity.”

Reverend Chris Colledge, Westbourne Rotary Club

Jim Gillett from Reading Abbey Rotary Club was awarded a BEM for his services ​to the community in Charvill and neighbouring Reading. Jim organises the ​Children in Need fund-raising in the Reading area for the BBC’s annual fund-​raiser.

Richard Power, from the Rotary Club of Leicester, has been awarded an MBE in ​the New Year’s honours list. An orthopaedic surgeon with the University ​Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, he is also chair of Health Action Leicester in ​Ethiopia. He was honoured for services to health in Gondar, northern Ethiopia.

In Devon, current President of Ilfracombe Rotary Club, Ann Doody, has been ​awarded a BEM for her voluntary work. She is proud about her town, and can ​often be seen on the streets of Ilfracombe weeding pavements and planting up ​flower tubs.

She has helped with the Ilfracombe in Bloom for years, while also being involved ​with St Nicholas Chapel. Ann has been a Rotarian since 2005, and was the club’s ​first female President in 2011.

Robin Varley from Aberystwyth Rotary has been awarded an MBE for his services ​to cricket in Wales. A former deputy headmaster of Penglais School in the West ​Wales town, Robin is chair of the Cricket Wales North Area Board.

Speaking to the Cambrian News, he said: “It came as a surprise to say the least.

“My first thought when I received the letter from the Cabinet Office was that my ​mother would be beside herself. It’s almost like winning the lottery. There are so ​many people who have done what I have done and not been recognised.

“It’s been hard work, but it is a great honour.”

Robin Varley, Aberystwyth Rotary Club

Also in Wales, and the Rev Roy Watson from Brynmawr Rotary received a BEM for ​services to the community in Barry and Blaenau Gwent. He had held education ​roles over the past 30 years and is the current chair of governors for Coed-y-​Garn Primary School in Abertillery.

He said: “I’ve always been interested in service in church, and the community, ​and I think it is my work in the community that has gained recognition.”

And in Barry, South Wales, Howard Provis, a member of the Rotary Club of Barry, ​has been awarded an MBE for services to the Welsh Blood Transfusion Service, ​and to the community in Barry and the Vale of Glamorgan.

Elaine Hutchings from the Rotary Club of Lichfield St Chad in the West Midlands ​has received a BEM for her work in the community during the Covid-19 ​pandemic. Her ‘Helping Each Other’ group supported the vulnerable and isolated ​by delivering essential items.

Speaking to Lichfield Live in 2020, Elaine explained: “We started the group due to ​the panic buying – it was clear that things were spiralling out of control and we ​needed to do something.

“We had everything from sanitiser, which we distributed to pharmacies and care ​workers, through to food donated from local catering businesses which allowed ​the meals to be made so we could hand them out with donation boxes.”

Elaine Hutchings (right), Lichfield St Chad Rotary Club, at a previous club event.

Another pandemic hero, Peter Garwood from the Rotary Club of Furness was ​awarded an OBE for his volunteer work when he was a key figure in the local ​vaccination drive in Barrow which involved all three Rotary clubs in the Cumbrian ​town.

He was at the forefront of organising volunteers for vaccinations at the Alfred ​Barrow Health Centre, when more than 80,000 vaccines were delivered.

“Nobody had a clear idea of what was required of us, however as good Rotarians, ​instinct and ability soon took over,” recalled Peter in an interview in June 2021.

“We quickly became experts in dealing with the anxious, the stressed, the ​clinically vulnerable, the needle phobic and lots and lots of people with issues. 

“We learnt from our mistakes. We changed things around, we moved furniture, ​we opened up a new entrance and a new exit, we adapted, but always with a ​smile and a kind word.”

Godalming Rotary Club in Surrey had two members honoured in the New Year. ​Iain Reeve received an MBE as the Head of the Ukraine Rail Response Team with ​the Department of Transport for services to rail aid in Ukraine.

And Carol Wai Wing Hui, who is a Board member with the British Tourist ​Authority, was the recipient of an OBE for services to tourism.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “The New Year’s Honours list recognises the ​exceptional achievements of people across the country and those who have ​shown the highest commitment to selflessness and compassion. 

“To all honourees, you are the pride of this country and an inspiration to us all.”