The New Year's Honours For Sussex People

An expert on improving writing for children, a celebrated author, and numerous community champions including the owner of Worthing F.C. are among those in the New Year's Honours.

Chichester based author Kate Mosse has become a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) elevated from OBE, for services to literature, to women and to charity.

The author of many novels and short story collections, including the Joubert family chronicles and the Languedoc Trilogy, she has also written memoirs on caring, and works drawing on history which also inspired her one-woman show and theatre tour.

Kate Mosse is founder director of The Women's Prizes, celebrating women's writing, and founder of a global campaign "Women In History", to honour, celebrate and promote women's achievements throughout time.

She is a visiting Professor of Creative Writing and Contemporary Fiction in the University of Chichester.

Dame Ruth Miskin, newly elevated from CBE, also based in West Sussex, has made a significant contribution to teaching children to read across the UK, according to the government.

In announcing that she had become a Dame, Downing Street said her time has been devoted to developing a phonics programme called Read Write Inc (RWI).

This has been adopted by over 7000 schools across the UK and worldwide.

Since 1997, successive governments have drawn on her expertise in the teaching of literacy.

Tony Bloom, Brighton and Hove Albion's Chairman, has been awarded the MBE, although the government announcement says his residence is London.

Other awards given to Sussex residents are:

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE):

• Christopher Blandford, president of World Heritage UK, for services to world heritage;
• Laurence Cummings, director of the ensemble The Academy of Ancient Music, for services to music;
• David Farnsworth, MD of the City Bridge Foundation, for services to the voluntary sector;
• Rachel Gaisburgh-Watkyn, MD of the Tiny Box Company, for services to sustainability, ethical business growth and exports
• Jonathan McGoh, chair and co-founder, The Reach Foundation and co-founder and trustee, Reach Academy Feltham, for services to education;
• Oscar Pinto-Hervia, founder of Hervia, for services to fashion and to charity;
• Mark Steene, founder and director of Outside In Art, for services to art;
• Stephen Whitton, head of Border Force Maritime Command, for services to maritime border security

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE):

• Kathryn Caton, founder and MD of Brighton Gin, for services to trade and the community;
• Samuel Cousley, Head of Seafarers at the Department for Transport, for services to seafarers;
• Diana Cunningham, peer trainer at Sussex Recovery College, for services to mental health;
• George Dowelll, owner of Worthing Football Club, for services to football and to disability awareness;
• Giles Duley, founder of the Legacy of War Foundation, for services to survivors of conflict;
• Liam Hackett, founder and CEO of Ditch The Label, for services to young people;
• Nathaniel Hepburn, director and CEO of Charleston, for services to the arts;
• Helen Holtam, tutor with the Friends of Erlestock Prison "Origami Inside", for services to prisoners;
• Gaynor Ripley, partnership manager with the Department for Work and Pensions, for public service;
• John Simpson, for services to agriculture and the community in Lewes;
• Richard Stewart, lately trustee and chair of trustees at St. John's School and College, for services to children and young people with special educational needs

British Empire Medal:

• Geraldine Constable, for services to the community in Hailsham and Eastbourne;
• Harbaksh Singh Grewal, vice-chair of UK Punjab Heritage Association, for services to Punjabi and Sikh heritage, and to charity;
• Nicola Hawkins, for services to the community in Hastings and Rother;
• Felicity Hills, for services to the community in Hastings;
• Gloria Moss, Sussex President of the British Red Cross, for voluntary service to the community;
• Janice Sheward, director of Cancer United, for services to people with cancer in West Sussex;
• Jonathan Willcocks, musical director of The Chichester Singers, for services to music;
• Paula Woolven, for services to the community in East Sussex during Covid 19.