Three Named in King’s Birthday Honours List
We’re delighted to share that three people from churches and schools in the diocese have been named in the King’s Birthday Honours.
Rita McCall, Deputy Verger at St Mary Magdalene Newark, has been awarded British Empire Medal (BEM).
Alongside her role as Deputy Verger at St Mary’s, Rita has been the organiser of the church’s popular Christmas Tree Festival for the past 17 years, and it’s this that has been recognised through this award.
Rita shared: “It is indeed a great honour to have been awarded – I was stunned and completely taken aback when I received the letter. When I read on the letter that it was for services to the community in Newark as Organiser of the Christmas Tree Festival, it then dawned on me that one or more of my friends / colleagues at St Mary Magdalene Church had made the application. It made me feel very humble that I should be rewarded for doing something that I love to do. Each year a large number of people work with me each year to stage the Tree Festival and without them there would be no festival, so the honour is for them too.”
“It made me feel very humble that I should be rewarded for doing something that I love to do.“
Christmas tree festivals are a great way to introduce people to church often for the very first time, and potentially starting their journey of faith and commitment. The Newark Christmas Tree Festival began in 2008 and since then Rita has headed up a team from the church to organise the display of trees and day to day management of the festival. This year will be it’s 17th year, with the 2025 festival taking place 29th November – 7th December.
Revd Chris Lion, Rector of St Mary’s, shared, “We are absolutely delighted that Rita has been publicly recognised in this very special way; it is thoroughly deserved. Her tireless voluntary work on behalf of our church and the wider community, over many years, is an inspiration to us all. In all that she does, from masterfully organising the Christmas Tree Festival to clambering onto the roof of St Mary’s to change the flag, Rita’s servant heart and wonderfully generous spirit make her a greatly-loved lynchpin of both our parish and our town. Thank you, Rita, for all you’ve done; and huge congratulations.”
Pete Edwards, Diocesan Disability Advisor and LLM at The Church of Sherwood Forest, has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
As well as being Diocesan Disability Advisor and an LLM, Pete has played an active role in the Ashfield district and a champion for sport for disabled people for many years. Pete was nominated for services to the economy and the community in Ashfield, in his role as Chair of the Ashfield Health and Wellbeing Partnership.
Pete was licensed as an LLM in 1997 and has been involved in preaching, teaching and leading services ever since. In his role as Diocesan Disability Advisor, he supports parishes to be more accessible and become a welcoming space to all, and sits on various boards in an advisory position.
Pete shared: “I was gobsmacked when I heard the news. I keep reading over the letter, people like me don’t receive awards like this – I can’t believe it! It’s such an honour and I’m extremely humbled and proud to be nominated for such an accolade.”
Pete lost his leg in an accident in 1989 which changed his life. He later moved to Ashfield and soon became a leading advocate for disabled sport. Pete also got involved in a church around this time and shared, “in all the things that have happened in my life, God has always been there”.
Sian Hampton, CEO of Archway Learning Trust, has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
“It is an immense privilege and I feel truly humbled.“
Sian is CEO of the Archway Learning Trust and has received the honour for services to education. As one of the East Midlands’ largest Multi Academy Trusts, Archway educates 9,400 pupils across the city and county, and is a Church of England trust. Part of Sian’s role is to ensure the ethos and Christian identity of the schools within the trust are recognised and celebrated, contributing to one of our key areas of focus, reaching younger. Sian recently announced her retirement after more than two decades of service, and will step down at the end of August 2025.
Sian shared with us: “I am delighted to be awarded this honour in the King’s Birthday Honours. It is an immense privilege and I feel truly humbled. No leader ever works in a silo and I have accepted this OBE on behalf of Archway Learning Trust and all the amazing staff who work there and will not be singled out for recognition. Every day I am inspired by the commitment and expertise of our staff team and the motivation and passion of our student body. I would like to thank all of those who have played a part in my achieving this award, especially my colleagues at Archway but also those in the Diocese, the DfE, the LAs and our wonderful Trust Board.”
We are so delighted that Rita, Pete and Sian have been recognised for their contributions to their communities, and are grateful for all they contribute to the life of the diocese.