Current Students and Staff

// University News

5 Jan 2017

New Year’s Honours for Loughborough’s athletes, alumni and honorary graduates

No fewer than 23 Loughborough University linked athletes, alumni and honorary graduates have been recognised in the Queen's New Year Honours list.

Following Britain’s most successful Olympic and Paralympic Games ever, many of the sporting inclusions focus around the achievements in Rio de Janeiro, where Loughborough played a significant role in Team GB and Paralympics GB’s success.

Having captured the hearts of the nation, all of Team GB’s gold medal winning women’s hockey team have been awarded an MBE, including five Loughborough alumnae Giselle Ansley, Hannah MacLeod, Maddie Hinch, Laura Unsworth and Nicola White.

On the water, Liam Heath has also received an MBE for his gold and silver medal winning performances in his canoe, whilst Matt Gotrel, part of the gold medal winning men’s coxed eight rowing squad, received the same accolade.

Fellow alumnus Adam Duggleby has also been awarded an MBE for his efforts in the Paralympic Games, where he piloted his cycling partner Stephen Bate to double gold.

Loughborough based swimmer Adam Peaty has received an MBE in recognition of the medals he won in Rio, and there are also MBEs for Loughborough based Paralympic athletes Libby Clegg and her guide Chris Clarke, Sophie Hahn and Andy Lewis, as well as former Loughborough student and Paralympic swimmer Mikey Jones.

Alumnae Sonia Briscoe, who served as Chef de Mission at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, and Karen Carney, who plays for the England Women's Football Team and Chelsea Ladies, have been awarded an OBE and an MBE respectively.

Outside of sport three alumni have been honoured: Christopher Newsome has been awarded an OBE for services to Civil Engineering and Carbon Reduction; Gordon Phillips an MBE for services to young people with special educational needs and disabilities; and Dave Watson has been awarded a CBE for services to science and engineering research.

And four Loughborough honorary graduates have been recognised:  Jonathan Agnew has received an MBE for services to broadcasting; Sir Roger Bannister CBE a Companion of Honour for services to sport; Dame Evelyn Glennie DBE a Companion of Honour for services to music; and Dr Christopher Simpkins a CBE for services to the Armed Forces community.

Loughborough University Vice Chancellor Professor Robert Allison said: “We would like to congratulate all of Loughborough’s New Year’s Honours recipients.  We are incredibly proud of their achievements and delighted that they have been recognised.”