New Year Honours: Volunteer who helped London bombing victims gets BEM

Gloria Moss, from Bognor, has been volunteering with the British Red Cross for more than 40 years.

During the London tube bombings, in July 2005, she led on setting up the Queen Mother’s Leisure Centre used to provide humanitarian assistance to those affected.

Gloria receives the British Empire Medal (BEM) which is given to mark the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the UK.

The British Red Cross lifetime achievement award recipient also led on the roll out of an “emergency response caravan” in Sussex and Kent. The mobile relief shelter carried essentials such as food, drink, blankets and is used to assist people who have been affected by fires or flood.

Gloria’s career at the Red Cross also saw her leading on the response to the 2009 swine flu pandemic, where she worked with volunteers to deliver vital anti-viral medications to people’s homes.

Gloria said: “I am proud of all the things we have done, all of the services we have provided and continue to provide.

“It is an honour, a wonderful honour, to be awarded a British Empire Medal for my work with an organisation that I am totally dedicated to.”

British Red Cross chief executive Béatrice Butsana-Sita said: “For decades, Gloria has gone above and beyond, repeatedly there to provide emergency support to people at times of crisis.

“We thank her for her kindness, courage, and tireless dedication.”

Gloria is one of a number of people to be honoured in Sussex.

Ruth Miskin from West Sussex, a children’s reading expert and already a Commander of the British Empire (CBE), has been made a dame for services to education.

Charles Henry, the Duke of Richmond and founder of the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival will be honoured with a CBE (Image: PA)

Charles Henry, the Duke of Richmond and founder of the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival, is honoured with a CBE. The Duke owns the Goodwood Estate and is president of the British Automobile Racing Club. He receives his CBE for services to heritage, sport and charity.

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Kate Mosse founded the Women's Prize for Fiction (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Also from Chichester, best-selling author Kate Mosse receives a CBE. She is best known for her 2005 novel Labyrinth, which has been translated into more than 37 languages. Kate, who co-founded the Women's Prize for Fiction, receives her honour for service to literature, women and charity.

Paula Woolven, from Telscombe Cliffs, receives a British Empire Medal (BEM) with a special mention for her efforts during the Covid pandemic when she set up Havens Food Co-operative in Newhaven.

Paula Woolven at the Havens Community Hub (Image: Submitted)

The 51-year-old started the project to reduce food waste and feed people in the town free of charge.

She is the second person in her family to be honoured, following in the footsteps of her mother Marilyn Nolan who received a BEM in the New Year Honours of 2016.

Paula Woolven and her mother Marilyn Nolan (Image: Submitted)

“I may be the captain, but this ship couldn’t have set sail without all the wonderful volunteers, supporters and staff on board,” Paula said.

“We have nearly 100 people directly involved in the front-line services.”

All of these people receive an OBE:

• Christopher Blandford, from Uckfield, is the president of a heritage charity called World Heritage UK. He receives his honour for services to world heritage
• Laurence Cummings is a conductor and the music director of the Academy of Ancient Music. From Mayfield, Laurence receives his honour for services to music
• David Farnsworth, from Brighton, is the managing director of City Bridge Foundation, a charity which owns five of the Thames crossings. He receives his honour for services to the voluntary sector in London
• Rachel Gaisburgh-Watkyn is the managing director of Tiny Box Company, a recycled packaging company. She rose to fame through her success on Dragon’s Den. Rachel, who lives in Crowborough, receives her honour for services to sustainability, to ethical business growth and to exports
• Jonathan McGoh is the chairman and co-founder of the Reach Foundation, a charity which tackles educational disadvantage. He now lives in Brighton and receives his honours for services to education
• Oscar Pinto-Hervia, who lives in Brighton, founded Hervia, an independent British fashion brand. He receives his honour for services to fashion and charity
• Marc Steene, from Brighton, is the founder and director of Outside In Art, a charity that seeks to make the art world fairer. He receives his honour for services to art
• Stephen Whitton from Burgess Hill is the head of the Border Force’s maritime command. He is honoured for services to maritime border security.

All of these people receive an MBE:

• Samuel Cousley is the head of seafarers at the Department for Transport. From Eastbourne, he is honoured for services to seafarers
• Diana Cunningham is a peer trainer at Sussex Recovery College, an institute that offers mental health recovery courses in Hove. She receives her honour for services to mental health
• Nathaniel Hepburn is the chief executive of Charleston, the house, gardens and art gallery in Firle, near Lewes. He receives his honour for services to the arts
• Helen Holtam is a tutor who teachers origami to prisoners at HMP Erlestoke in Wiltshire. Helen, from Brighton, receives her honour for services to prisoners
• Gaynor Ripley, from St Leonards, is a partnership manager at the Department for Work and Pensions and is honoured for public service
• John Simpson is honoured for services to agriculture and to the community in Lewes
• Richard Stewart is the chairman of trustees at St John’s School and College, which provides education, care and therapy for autistic people in Brighton. He is honoured for services to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Harbaksh Grewal, from Hastings, is the vice chairman of the UK Punjab Heritage Association. He receives a BEM for services to Punjabi and Sikh heritage and to charity.