Cumbrians recognised in King’s Birthday Honours

Several Cumbrians have been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours this year.

People are awarded an honour for their exceptional service in public and community life and are committed to making a difference to those around them.

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Lorrayne Hughes, chief executive of Cumbria Education Trust, for services to education
Professor Brian James Webster-Henderson, deputy vice chancellor of the University of Cumbria and professor of nursing, for services to the NHS and to education.
Humphrey Giles Welfare, of Burgh-by-Sands, near Carlisle, for services to heritage in the North of England.

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Andrew Airey for services to the prevention of young suicide. Andy, of Eden, is part of 3 Dads Walking, who all lost their children to suicide and are campaigning to raise awareness.
David Geoffrey Jones for services to the community in Morland.
Victoria Jayne Moorby, head of marketing at Oxley in Ulverston, for services to the defence and aerospace industry.
Richard Ogden for services to the community in Cumbria and to young people in the UK and abroad.
Fiona Kennedy Stobart for services to community palliative care.
James Edward Walker for services to tourism.

Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)

Thomas Coulthard for services to heritage and to the community in the Lake District.
Dennis Laird for services to the community in Barrow.

Anyone can nominate someone for a UK honour through the open access system and awards are given to people from all walks of life.

The final decision as to who receives an honour is first decided by an honours committee and their recommendations go to the Prime Minister and finally to The King for approval.

The process can take up to 18 months with recipients of honours announced in The King’s New Year’s Honours List and Birthday Honours List.

Lord-Lieutenant of Cumbria Alexander Scott said: “It is a very proud moment for our county that so many Cumbrian residents have been recognised for their contributions to our communities. To be awarded an honour is a huge achievement and I would like to congratulate them all.

“I would encourage people to think about someone that they know who always goes the extra mile for others and who has made an outstanding contribution to their community or to their area of work over the years. Anyone can nominate a person for an honour, and I am very keen for people who have given exceptional service to receive the recognition they deserve.”

Lorrayne Hughes

Lorrayne Hughes has led the trust since its inception in 2015. It is now responsible for the education of more than 5,000 young people, aged two to 18, across the county.

The trust has grown to include 10 primary and three secondary schools and West Coast Sixth Form.

Lorrayne said: “I am delighted to have been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours; it is great acknowledgement of all that we have achieved at Cumbria Education Trust.

“It has been my honour to serve so many fantastic young people and to raise the quality of education working alongside some of the most dedicated, hardworking and loyal colleagues you could possibly wish for. This is a tribute to the family that is Cumbria Education Trust.”

Lorrayne, who is also a board member of the Confederation of School Trusts, took up her first headship at William Howard School in Brampton in 2007 and, in 2014, was commissioned to bring about rapid improvement in two Workington schools in special measures. The new Workington Academy is now thriving, oversubscribed, and in 2022, achieved a good rating from Ofsted.

Prof Brian Webster-Henderson

Hailing from Carnoustie, Professor Webster-Henderson’s career stretches for more than four decades.

He is currently spearheading the establishment of the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine in a unique partnership between Imperial College London and University of Cumbria and is also part of the University of Cumbria team working with Cumberland Council on the Cumberland Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC).

The Cumberland HDRC is a £4.8m project funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research to create a research informed approach to excellent services within the Cumberland council area.

He said: “I am very humbled to receive this honour in the King’s Birthday Awards.

“I’ve had a great career as a nurse, caring for people with a range of conditions in either mental health or emergency acute care, and then moving into higher education. I’ve had the best of both worlds, and as a nursing leader, there’s a lot to do with the profession in the UK to make it an attractive profession for people to come into. I’m glad to think I’ve had a part to play in that and will continue to do so.”

In 2022 Professor Webster-Henderson was awarded a prestigious Fellowship of the Queen’s Nursing Institute.

He has also served as Chair of the Council of Deans of Health, the body which acts as the voice of 106 UK university faculties that are engaged in education and/or research for nursing, midwifery, and the allied health professions.

He also works at the highest levels of strategic discussions on issues such as workforce development, curriculum, research, and policy.

He meets regularly with chief executives and policymakers from leading organisations such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council, royal colleges, and professional bodies, participating in discussions that shape education, training, and the future of the healthcare workforce of the UK.

At the University of Cumbria, Professor Webster-Henderson provides executive leadership across the institution’s academic, research and knowledge exchange operations and its student support services.

He leads too on the university’s equality, diversity, inclusion, and well-being agendas, and is a governor at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust and a trustee for the Fells Academy Trust in Cumbria.