Geoff Hall, former Principal of New College Nottingham and contributor to FE Week, is one of just 27 people to be honoured with a Knighthood in today’s New Year’s Honours List 2012.

Mr (soon to be Sir) Hall announced his retirement from the college after seven and a half years of leadership in May 2010,  when he said at the time he planned “to spend far more time with my wife, to smell the roses, enjoy the coffee and walk our dog.” However, his services to further education are continuing in a new role, as he was appointed as Chairman of the information authority board in January 2011.

A further 16 people have been recognised for their services to FE, skills and/or training in England (see list below).

CBEs for:
~ Elizabeth Rushton, former Principal of West Herts College
~ Malcolm Wharton, Principal of Hartpury College in Gloucestershire

OBEs for:
~ Richard Chambers, former Principal of Lambeth College
~ David Croll, Principal of Derby College
~ Dr Deirdre Hughes, Lead Consultant, Quality Assurance and Evidence Base at European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network (for services to Career Guidance)
~ Catherine Hurst, Principal of Wigan and Leigh College
~ Linda Moore, Group Director and Vice-Principal at Newcastle College
~ Dr Anne Murdoch, Principal of Newbury College in Berkshire

MBEs for:
~ Christine Gaskell Chair of the North West Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network (for services to Training and Apprenticeships)
~ David Harris, Divisional Managing Director for Cowlin Construction (for services to Education and Training in the Construction Industry)
~ Geoffrey Oakes, former Clerk to the Board of Governors at Reaseheath College
~ Malcolm Parkinson, Chair at Capel Manor College, Enfield, Middlesex
~ Denise Rowland, former Head of School for Early Years Health and Social Care at New College Durham
~ Graham Schuhmacher, Head of Development Services at Rolls-Royce Plc (for services to Apprenticeships and
Skills Training)
~ Carole Stott, Chair of Governors at the City Literary Institute (for services to Adult Education)
~ Ellen Winser, DL Chair of Board of Governors at Truro and Penwith College

The Cabinet Office have confirmed that “in total 984 people have been recommended to The Queen for an award”, of which “about 11 per cent of honours are for work in Education”.

828 candidates have been selected at MBE and OBE level, 587 at MBE and 241 at OBE.

  • 70 per cent of the recipients are people who have undertaken outstanding work in their communities either in a voluntary or paid capacity.
  • There are 420 successful women candidates on the List, representing 43 per cent of the total. Women candidates include 1 GBE, 7 Dames, 27 CBEs and 3 CBs.
  • 12 per cent of the successful candidates come from ethnic minority communities.

The Cabinet Office statement continues: “Among the well known names being honoured there are CBEs for entertainer Ronnie Corbett, actress Helena Bonham Carter and author, poet and broadcaster Clive James. The OBEs include Dennis ‘Dickie’ Bird for services to Cricket and charity; Alex Crawford, the award-winning journalist who reported from Libya for Sky News; and the TV presenter Lorraine Kelly for services to charity and the Armed Forces. The MBEs include David Harewood, the actor, and David Rodigan, the radio presenter.”

FE Week congratulates all those being recognised for their contributions.

Click here to download the full New Year’s Honours List 2012.

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