Former Leicester Tigers player recognised in New Year's Honours List

Matt Hampson is among those from the East Midlands who have been recognised in the 2020 Honours List.

Matt Hampson, who was paralysed as he trained for Rugby with England in 2005, has been recognised with an OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours for his services to charity.

Since establishing the Matt Hampson Foundation ten years ago, hundreds of people suffering a life-altering injury through sport have joined the special community at the Get Busy Living centre and received support to rebuild their lives.

Matt said: “This was a complete shock and I’m blown away to be recognised in this way. After my injury I just decided to get busy living and focus on the positives in life. I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved with the Foundation over the past ten years and the amount of people we have helped to rebuild their lives following serious injury.

"Next year we celebrate our tenth anniversary and I’m really excited about what we have planned for the future.”

Foundation Patron Mike Tindall said: “I have had the immense privilege of knowing Matt for nearly 15 years and also more recently being Patron of the Matt Hampson Foundation. Watching what he has achieved and the amount of lives he has changed is phenomenal and I am delighted for him that he has been recognised in this way.”

Two Leicestershire Police Officers have also been recognised for their work. 

Deputy Chief Constable Rob Nixon (pictured left) and Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Jason Masters have both been awarded the Queen’s Police Medal.

DCC Nixon has served his entire 28-year career with Leicestershire Police. During that period he also led multi-force collaborative units working with Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. He is a graduate of the University of Leicester and has grown up in the county.

Here's the list of all those recognised across Leicestershire and Warwickshire:

Queen's Police Medal

Jason Dale Masters. Temporary Assistant Chief Constable, Leicestershire Police. (Leicestershire)

 Robert John Nixon. Deputy Chief Constable, Leicestershire Police. (Leicestershire)

 Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)

Asha Rani Day (Pictured). Nurse, Health Visitor and Clinical Team Leader; Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust. For services to the NHS and to Minority Ethnic Equality during the Covid-19 Response. (Fleckney, Leicestershire)

Asha Day receives the British Empire Medal for “services to the NHS and minority ethnic equality during the Covid response.”

She said: “It is great to start the new year off with something so nice. I don’t know who has put me forward, they don’t tell you. I will probably celebrate with a takeaway, because I can’t go anywhere!”
Asha has worked for the NHS for 36 years, and is in her third spell at LPT. She is a clinical team leader based in Leicester, leading a team of public health nurses (health visitors).

Anand Bhatt. Co-founder, Aakash Odedra Company. For services to Dance and to the community in   Leicester. (Leicester, Leicestershire)

Yasin Matthew Ross El Ashrafi. Founder, HQ Recording Studio, Leicester. For services to Young People, to Music and to Mentoring. (Leicester, Leicestershire)

Joyce Harris. For community and voluntary services to Cats in Loughborough. (Loughborough, Leicestershire)

Paul Hebborn. British Red Cross Staff Member and volunteer. For services to the Vulnerable in Northamptonshire during the Covid-19 Response. (Leicester, Leicestershire)

Neil Alfred Jones. For services to the community in Atherstone, Warwickshire. (Atherstone, Warwickshire)

Maya Joshi. For services to the Vulnerable in Leicestershire. (Leicester, Leicestershire)

John Perry. Band Leader, 1st Ibstock Scout Band. For services to Scouting in Leicestershire. (Ibstock, Leicestershire)

Members of the Order of the British Empire

Janet Cicely Arthur. For services to the community in Smeeton Westerby, Leicestershire. (Leicester, Leicestershire)

Lisa Jane Capper. Lately Chair, National Deaf Children's Society. For services to Young People. (Bushby, Leicestershire)

Matthew Ellison. Founder, Huntington's Disease Youth Organisation. For voluntary and charitable services. (Bedworth, Warwickshire)

Katherine Elizabeth Ann Hancock. Special Chief Officer, Warwickshire Police Special Constabulary. For services to Policing. (Dunchurch, Warwickshire)

Andrew John Hurst. Chief Executive, One Dance UK. For services to Dance, particularly during the Covid-19 Response. (Leamington Spa, Warwickshire)

Liz Jane Mills. For services to the community in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, particularly during the Covid-19 Response. (Glen Parva, Leicestershire)

Dr Harold Moore. Voluntary Founder and Chair, Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People and Co-founder, the Laura Centre. For services to Young People and to Charity in Leicester. (Lutterworth, Leicestershire)

Carol Ann Musgrave. Lately Manager, North Warwickshire Citizens' Advice.  For services to the Voluntary Sector and to the community in Warwickshire. (Nuneaton, Warwickshire)

Joanna Angelina Helen Snow. Matron, Intensive Care Unit, Kettering General Hospital. For services to the NHS and Patients, particularly during the Covid-19 Response. (Leicester, Leicestershire)

Stella Winifred Thebridge. Principal Librarian, Schools and Reading, Warwickshire. For services to Public Libraries during Covid-19. (Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands)

Anjuu Trevedi. Head, Regional Business Engagement, University of Leicester. For services to Business Innovation and to the Economy in Leicestershire. (Leicester, Leicestershire)

Glynis Wright. Founder and Head of Practice, Glynis Wright Ltd Solicitors. For services to Female Entrepreneurship. (Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire)

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Sandra Marilyn Barnett-Pollock OBE.

Director, Open Mind Training and Development. For services to Equality. (Leicester, Leicestershire)

Matt Hampson. Founder, Matt Hampson Foundation. For voluntary and charitable service. (Cold Overton, Leicestershire)

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Fayyaz Afzal OBE. Circuit Judge, England and Wales.  For services to the Judiciary and to Diversity and Inclusion. (Leicester, Leicestershire)