A Lake District mountain rescue volunteer is among a number of Cumbrians who have been recognised in the King’s birthday honours.
Richard Warren, a member of Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team, has been given an OBE for his service.
He stepped down chairman of the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association after 17 years in April.
Richard, 72, has volunteered for mountain rescue team member for almost 40 years. As well as chairman of the association, he has also acted as a buildings officer, trustee and secretary and is a qualified helmsman and blue light driver as well as being the lead on drones in the region.
When he stepped down from the chairman role earlier this year, he told Cumbria Crack: “I started with mountain rescue in 1985 and it was a good match for me and a natural progression in my life.
“I have always loved climbing since being a child and my skills in my career at Sellafield were around resource co-ordination.
“I’m still fully operational now and people say oh you’re still going out Richard? But you’re 72! and I say so what? I was at training the other night with the team and I was flying the drone.
“Yes you’re not as fit as you were at 30, but you do have more time because you’re retired. Is it right to call them twilight years of mountain rescue?
“I do make my way up the mountains a bit slower, but once I get up there, there’s no stopping me.
“I can carry the stretcher as well as anyone else and I have a lot of rescue experience, so I’m very familiar with the areas we cover and I try and pass that on to new people.”
John Bamforth, Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team chair, said: “Richard is a trusted and conscientious member of our team, who will go out on rescues at any time of day or night.
“His contribution to the running of our team and the regional association in his nearly 40 years to date has been very significant and he has left a legacy of achievements as well as demonstrating how to behave as a mountain rescue volunteer in an exemplary and professional manner.
“On behalf of the team, please accept our heartfelt congratulations on this deserving achievement.”
Richard said: “It is an immense honour to be receiving this award which I would like to dedicate to my family and friends who have supported me throughout the last 40 years.
“It is a privilege to play a small part in my local Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team, as well as the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association, and the wider mountain rescue community. I value the fact that we remain a voluntary organisation, and I am extremely proud of the service we provide.”
Other Cumbrian recipients of a King’s Birthday Honour in 2025 are:
Knighthood
Professor Vernon Charles Gibson CB FRS for services to science and defence. He joined the Ministry of Defence as chief scientific adviser in 2012, where he was responsible for nuclear and non-nuclear science and technology.
Vernon was elected to the Royal Society in 2004, and in 2020 was awarded the Lord Lewis Prize for his work in policy setting at the interface of academia with industry and government. He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 2017 Queen’s New Year’s Honours list for services to defence.
Commander of the British Empire (CBE)
Paul Caldwell for services to agriculture and to rural areas. The chief executive of the Rural Payments Agency joined it in 2001. Paul has worked in operations, communications and strategy, and was made operations director in 2010. Before this, Paul was manager at the British Cattle Movement Service and occupied various roles within the former Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, now Defra.Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
- Nicholas James Barrett for services to outdoor education. He is the former chief executive of the Outward Bound Trust. He left the organisation in 2023 after 17 years in charge.
- James Matthew Batchelor for services to technology for older people. The Windermere-based expert founded Alertacall and works with a number of charities.
- John Rodger Cairns for services to public transport. Mr Cairns is a director of the not-for-profit Western Dales Community Bus Service.
- Douglas Kerr for services to aviation heritage. Mr Kerr has volunteered for decades at the Solway Aviation Museum in Carlisle and founded the Solway Aviation Society.
- Mark Todd for services to sailing and young people. Mr Todd is chief executive of Ocean Youth Trust South, a charity which takes youngsters to sea for personal development.
- Robert Walker for services to neurodiversity. Mr Walker founded Defra’s Neurodiversity Network in 2008. He worked for Defra for over 33 years, first joining the Animal and Plant Health Agency, and now working in the core department.
- Jeremy Richard Wilson for services to indoor climbing. Mr Wilson set up the Lakeland Climbing Centre in 1995 with Kendal Wall.
Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)
- Margaret Hartley for services to the community in West Cumbria.
- Nigel Robert Lister for services to the nuclear industry and to mountain rescue. Chair of Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue Team and a volunteer for over 25 years, Mr Lister is also head of safety at the Low Level Waste Repository at Drigg.
- Marjorie Anne Nicholson for services to the arts and to the community in Barrow.
- Kevin Walsh for services to the community in Carlisle. Mr Walsh has worked alongside several organisations in the area ranging from Age UK (North Cumbria) as a former trustee and now as chair of Age Friendly Carlisle; Ramblers Wellbeing Walks, where he is a walk leader in Carlisle; The Alzheimer’s Society as a Dementia Friend Ambassador and former chair of Carlisle Dementia Action Alliance. He is vice chair of Cumbria Community Foundation’s board and chair of its main grants committee Having championed the installation of public access defibrillators across Cumbria & Lancashire as part of a Rotary Foundation Global Grant in 2014/17, Kevin he also organised Community Health Fairs, health events in local auction marts and supported the development of Stroke Awareness in Copeland. He has been a third sector representative on one of the Carlisle’s Integrated Care Community committees.
Claire Riley, chief of corporate services for the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, who lives in the North East, has been awarded an OBE. She has been recognised for services to the NHS spanning 18 years, and to children’s literacy as chair of trustees for Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children’s Books in Newcastle upon Tyne
Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria Alexander Scott said: “It’s a moment of great pride for our county to see so many Cumbrian residents recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours.
“I’m especially pleased by the number of recipients this year, it reflects the depth of commitment, compassion and service that runs through our communities.
“Being awarded an honour is a truly significant achievement, and I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all those named.
“Each of them has gone above and beyond, often without seeking any recognition, and their dedication is an inspiration to us all.
“I would also encourage everyone to think about who they might nominate in the future. The honours system depends on public nominations, and by putting someone forward, you help ensure their extraordinary contributions are seen, celebrated and valued.”
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.
