Shropshire community heroes in Queen's birthday Honours List

A military leader, a doctor and a charity fundraiser are among those who have been recognised for their efforts to make a difference to other people's lives.

They are included with thousands more people from across Britain in the list, which has been made public today.

Lenny Henry, Benedict Cumberbatch's Van Morrison, Eddie Redmayne and Kevin Spacey are among those named in today's Queen's Birthday honours list.

In Shropshire, Dr Nigel O'Connor, former Consultant Haematologist at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH), has been awarded an MBE for services to haematology.

He set up the Shropshire Blood Trust and the O'Connor Haematology Unit at RSH now stands in his name.

The charity made an impressive £1.1million donation to help set up the Lingen Davies Centre at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

He worked in the NHS for more than 36 years.

He said: "Over the last 24 years there has been massive advances in the treatment of blood cancers.

"Both the chemotherapy and the supportive care are better so the outcomes for patients have improved a lot."

Dr O'Connor also taught haematology to medical students and staff at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust as well as at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB).

He said there had been a number of milestones during his career.

"More recently, and thanks to collaboration between the Lingen Davies Cancer Relief Fund and the Blood Trust Fund, we have been able to design a purpose-built unit, which caters for both haematology patients having treatment and for those attending out-patients.

"This unit, the Lingen Davies Centre, opened at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and patients have a much kinder experience."

The Haematology Unit at RSH was named after Dr O'Connor in September 2013 in recognition of his work but also because he had the vision to start fundraising for the unit a dozen years ago.

"To have it named as the O'Connor Haematology Unit is very humbling, and I'm very grateful to all the patients who suggested the name," he said.

During his career he has written nine Lancet Editorials, served on the Council of the Royal College of Physicians for five years and locally set up the Drugs and Therapeutics Committee as well as running the District Medical Records Committee for over 10 years.

Outside the NHS, Dr O'Connor has been married to Angela for more than 36 years, and together they have three children – Nicholas, Alice and William – and three grandchildren.

Alice followed in her father's medical footsteps, and is a consultant in palliative care at Severn Hospice.

Away from the Trust, Dr O'Connor is also a Shrewsbury town tour guide, a role he has enjoyed for the last few years.

Leslie George Goodchild, from Newport, has been appointed as a Member to the Military Division of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his exceptional performance commanding Support Wing at RAF Shawbury.

Mr Goodchild, Senior Executive Officer for the Ministry of Defence, has been personally responsible for two major infrastructure projects – a £6m gymnasium and a £4m all ranks dining complex at the county base.

He is also a leading light in the Newport Rotary Club, heavily involved in their tremendous charity efforts including cycle rides and lectures.

Mr Goodchild said: "It was a tremendous shock to learn of my award and I am grateful to those who thought me worthy of such an honour.

"However, I am fortunate to be surrounded by a great team of people for which I owe a debt of gratitude for their part in what has to be the pinnacle of my career supporting the Royal Air Force over a period in excess of 40 years."

Robert Gordon Humphreys, who last year stepped down as the Honorary secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group, has been awarded an MBE for his services to alcohol policy.

Mr Humphreys, of Bucknell, worked tirelessly over the last two decades to set up the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group, the largest all party group in Westminster.

It allows MPs to see the vital role beers and pubs play in the local economy in their constituencies.

Mrs Jane Victoria Redshaw, of Brignorth, has been awarded an MBE for services to the community and to charity in Bridgnorth, Wolverhampton and the West Midlands.

Chief Constable of Dyfed Powys Police Simon Prince has been honoured with a Queen's Police Medal, while Sandy Lindsay, formerly of Telford, founder and chair of Tangerine PR and The Juice Academy, was recognised for her services to business and young people in the North West.

Full list of honours awarded to people in the region:

SHROPSHIRE

• Kenneth Arch, of Bridgnorth, for services to the community in Shropshire particularly in Bridgnorth – MBE

• Leslie George Goodchild, of Newport, Senior Executive Officer Ministry of Defence, for services in support of the Royal Air Force – MBE

• Robert Gordon Humphreys, of Bucknell, Honorary secretary All Party Parliamentary Beer Group, for services to Alcohol Policy – MBE

• Dr Nigel Timothy James O’Connor, from Shrewsbury, retired Consultant Haematologist Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, Shropshire, for his services to haematology in the health service – MBE

• Jane Victoria Redshaw, of Bridgnorth, for services to the community and to charity in Wolverhampton, West Midlands and Bridgnorth, Shropshire – MBE

• Sandy Lindsay, of Telford, for services to business and young people in the North West – MBE

• Jeremy Hobbs, Shropshire, for services to charity especially Compton Hospice in Wolverhampton – BEM

POWYS

• Trevor John Lloyd. Bookbinder. For services to the Craft of Bookbinding and Book Restoration. (Knighton, Powys) – MBE

• Doris Maureen Bowen, from Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys, for services to the community in Beulah, Powys – BEM

• Olwen Edith Bowen, for services to the community in Llanbister, Powys – BEM

• Lorraine Lloyd, of Welshpool, for services to the community in Welshpool – BEM

• Christopher Stuart Fairhurst, of Llangammarch Wells, Powys, for voluntary service to the community in Garth Llangammarch Wells, Powys – BEM

• Simon John Prince – Chief Constable Dyfed Powys Police – QUEEN’S POLICE MEDAL

• Gordon Roberts – Head of Service Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust – QUEEN’S AMBULANCE SERVICE MEDAL