By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
A senior church minister who helps victims of the Windrush scandal and a Nottingham business campaigner have been recognised in the New Year Honours List for 2023.
The national list is released each year to mark the outstanding public service of individuals from across the UK.
Recipients are typically awarded for “outstanding contributions across all parts of the UK” for work in areas such as sustained public service, youth engagement and community work.
Recommendations for honours are decided by a committee and then passed to the Prime Minister and the King for approval.
Among Nottinghamshire people honoured this year is Clive Foster, a senior minister at Pilgrim Church in the Meadows.
He has been awarded an MBE for his work in advising the Home Office in response to the Windrush scandal.
The 58-year-old was also a lead commissioner of a piece of research which led to Nottingham being the first city to categorise misogyny as a hate crime, and his work with the Home Office as an advocate for victims helped obtain the rights and compensation for many in the Windrush generation.
As founder of the Nottingham Windrush Support Forum, he has further facilitated events, often using his own finances, at his church as a meeting place for victims.
“I’m really honoured to be a recipient,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
“It is recognition not just for me personally, but also many people who have been a part of this work in Nottingham.
“The Windrush scandal brought to a head people who very much had the right to be in the country, and lost so many rights that were due to them.
“What has been really humbling for me is to see the real humility of people who have gone through this. I have been so amazed by the lack of resentment, people just wanted to get their rights and get on with their lives.”
Natalie Olivia Gasson-McKinley, the Nottingham-based Development Manager for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is also honoured with an MBE.
The 46-year-old has developed a strong reputation and been instrumental in ensuring fair representation and delivering positive change to protect the 5,000 businesses within the FSB.
“I’ve been championing businesses for decades now, but the last two years have been particularly tough,” she says.
“I’ve never known a period like this for businesses, we’ve had Covid and now the cost of living crisis, it has been a real slog and quite upsetting.
“I’ve been working with people in business for years and I know some that have had to close down or let staff go. It has become a lot more about mental health.
“I’m hoping the year ahead is just a little bit better.
“I am stunned and surprised to have been honoured.”
Also honoured is 71-year-old Pamela ‘Jane’ Jefferson, who was recognised as a Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for her work with the Women’s Institute (WI) and Bassetlaw Hospice.
She says the recognition is “wonderful, really”.
For more than 40 years she has been a member of the Women’s Institute and during this time has held numerous positions including the President of Gringley-on-the-Hill WI.
She has worked to raise funds for local charities and committed herself to the welfare and safety of members, even nominating herself to do the cooking and baking during events, rather than adding the cost of caterers.
And as County Chair during the WI’s centenary year, she visited all 118 WI groups in Nottinghamshire, spearheading the activities which took place.
“The work I do for the hospice and the WI is just because I enjoy it, not for any recognition,” she added.
“I have been at the hospice for well over 22 years as a volunteer and I have just been made a trustee.
“I am pleased for the WI, they are a great group of ladies.”
Full List of New Year Honours: Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Awards
Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Katherine Ann Faulkner, Chair, The Home Buying and Selling Group. For services to the Home Moving Industry. (Newark, Nottinghamshire).
Saika Jabeen, Assistant Chief Officer, Nottinghamshire Probation Service. For Public Service. (Littleover, Derbyshire).
Professor Terry Moore, Emeritus Professor, University of Nottingham. For services to Satellite Navigation. (Belper, Derbyshire).
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Clive Daniel Foster, Senior Minister, Pilgrim Church. For services to the Windrush Generation. (Nottingham, Nottinghamshire).
Natalie Olivia Gasson-McKinley, Development Manager, Federation of Small Businesses. For services to Business in the East Midlands. (Nottingham, Nottinghamshire).
Sally Ann Gillborn, Chief Executive, North Notts Business Improvement District. For services to Business and to the Economy in Nottinghamshire. (Mansfield, Nottinghamshire).
Jonathan Hammond, for voluntary and charitable services to the community in Bingham, Nottinghamshire. (Nottingham, Nottinghamshire).
Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)
Patricia Jean Cargill, Chair, Patient Partnership Group, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. For services to NHS Patients. (Nottingham, Nottinghamshire).
Pamela Jane Jefferson, For services to the Women’s Institute in Nottinghamshire. (Ranskill, Nottinghamshire).
Angela Mary Painter, Chair, Sevenoaks District Voluntary Sector Forum and Trustee, Domestic Abuse Volunteer Support Services. For services to the Voluntary Sector in Kent. (Nottingham, Nottinghamshire).
Wendy Elizabeth Pease, Vice-Chair, Newark and District Talking Newspaper for the Blind. For services to Visually Impaired People and to the community in Newark, Nottinghamshire. (Newark, Nottinghamshire).
