A number of local people from across Preston have been recognised in King Charles’ Birthday Honours List.
University of Lancashire vice-chancellor Professor Graham Baldwin has been appointed an OBE, for services to higher education.
Graham’s entire career has been spent working to ensure Higher Education is within reach for people of all backgrounds.
Professor Baldwin said: “Receiving an OBE is a humbling moment. My whole career in Higher Education has been driven by a desire to remove social and economic barriers, to nurture potential, and to ensure that studying at university is transformational.
“I am deeply grateful to the many colleagues, mentors and my family whose encouragement, collaboration and support throughout my career have made this honour possible, and I accepted this OBE as a reflection of our shared achievements.
“I’m privileged to be in a position where I get to help people better their lives via education and work alongside colleagues who work tirelessly every day to make access and opportunity a reality.’’
Dr Karen Whittaker, from Preston, senior education lead at the Institute of Health Visiting is appointed an MBE for services to health visiting, recognising her significant contribution to health visitor practice, education and research over 38 years.
Karen joined the Institute of Health Visiting in 2022 and has worked with partners to publish a number of iHV workforce and education resources.
She said: “I am grateful to all the colleagues and many role models I’ve been fortunate to learn from and most of all from the support of my family and husband who have always stood by me and kept me going.”
Andrea Bennett, of Preston, regional probation director, North West Probation HM Prison and Probation Service receives the OBE for services to probation.
Recipients of the MBE also include Lancashire County Councillor David Snape, of Adlington, for parliamentary and political service; Sara Barr-Frost, of Preston, deputy chief nursing and allied health professionals officer, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust and lately Director of Nursing and Allied Health Professionals, Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust, for services to the NHS; and Victoria Eccleston, from Preston, senior probation officer, National Probation Service, for services to women on probation.
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