2015 Special Honours

As part of the British honours system, the Special Honours are issued at the King's pleasure at any given time. The Special Honours confer the award of the Order of the Garter, Order of the Thistle, Order of Merit, Royal Victorian Order and the Order of St John. Life Peers are at times also awarded as special honours.

Life Peer

Conservative Party

Dr Rosalind Miriam Altmann, to be Baroness Altmann, of Tottenham in the London Borough of Haringey – 19 May 2015
Andrew James Dunlop to be Baron Dunlop, of Helensburgh in the County of Dunbarton – 26 May 2015
The Rt Hon. Francis Anthony Aylmer Maude to be Baron Maude of Horsham, of Shipley in the County of West Sussex – 26 May 2015
Dr Terence James "Jim" O'Neill to be Baron O'Neill of Gatley, of Gatley in the County of Greater Manchester – 28 May 2015
James George Robert Bridges, to be Baron Bridges of Headley, of Headley Heath in the County of Surrey – 28 May 2015
The Hon. David Gifford Leathes Prior, to be Baron Prior of Brampton, of Swannington in the County of Norfolk – 29 May 2015
Richard Sanderson Keen, to be Baron Keen of Elie, of Elie in the Fife – 8 June 2015

Crossbench

Sir Robert Walter Kerslake to be Baron Kerslake, of Endcliffe in the City of Sheffield – 20 March 2015

Victoria Cross (VC)

Lance Corporal Joshua Mark Leakey, the Parachute Regiment – 26 February 2015

George Cross (GC)

Colour Sergeant Kevin Howard Haberfield, Royal Marines – 31 July 2015

Order of the Companions of Honour

Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH)

Honorary

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Mpilo Tutu, for services to UK communities, international peace and reconciliation – 30 November 2015

Knight Bachelor

The Rt Hon. Eric Pickles, – 14 August 2015
The Hon. Mr Justice Henry James Carr – 10 November 2015
The Hon. Mr Justice Adrian George Patrick Colton – 10 November 2015
The Hon. Mr Justice Peter Donald Fraser – 10 November 2015
The Hon. Mr Justice Andrew James Gilbart – 10 November 2015
The Hon. Mr Justice David John Holgate – 10 November 2015
The Hon. Mr Justice Timothy Julian Kerr – 10 November 2015
The Hon. Mr Justice Alistair William Orchard MacDonald – 10 November 2015
The Hon. Mr Justice Simon Derek Picken – 10 November 2015
The Hon. Mr Justice Richard Andrew Snowden – 10 November 2015

Most Honourable Order of the Bath

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB)

Honorary

Enrique Peña Nieto – President of the United States of Mexico – 3 March 2015
Joachim Gauck – President of the Federal Republic of Germany – 25 June 2015

Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG)

His Excellency Samuel Weymouth Tapley Seaton, – Governor-General of Saint Kitts and Nevis – 24 November 2015

Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG)

His Honour Judge Howard Andrew Clive Morrison, – For services to international justice and the rule of law – 26 October 2015

Honorary

Anders Fogh Rasmussen – 12th Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation – 30 November 2015

José Antonio Meade Kubireña – Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Mexico – 3 March 2015

Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)

Honorary

Carlos Alberto De Icaza González – Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Mexico – 3 March 2015

Royal Victorian Order

Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO)

His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales – 4 June 2015
Sir Simon Gerard McDonald, – 30 June 2015

Honorary

Diego Gómez Pickering – Ambassador of Mexico to the United Kingdom – 3 March 2015

Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO)

Rear Admiral Simon Paul Williams, – On relinquishment of the appointment of Defence Services Secretary. – 3 March 2015
Nicholas Pickard – 30 June 2015
Christopher Jon Martin, – Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister and Director-General of the Prime Minister’s Office. - 1 December 2015
Robert Haydon Vernon Luke – 8 December 2015

Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO)

William Brian Andrews, – On retirement as Superintendent of the State Apartments, St. James’s Palace. – 24 March 2015
Peter Ruskin – 30 June 2015
Susan Jayne Elliott, – 8 December 2015
Jonathan Paul Knight – 8 December 2015

Honorary

David Renato Najera Rivas – Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Mexico in the United Kingdom – 3 March 2015
Aníbal Gómez Toledo – Consul of Mexico, Embassy of Mexico in the United Kingdom – 3 March 2015

Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO)

William Smith, – 30 June 2015
Captain Lok Bahadur Gurung, The Queen’s Gurkha Signals – on relinquishment of his appointment as Queen’s Gurkha Orderly Officer – 4 June 2015
Captain Prakash Gurung, The Royal Gurkha Rifles – on relinquishment of his appointment as Queen’s Gurkha Orderly Officer – 4 June 2015
Andrew Hawkes, – 28 July 2015
Commander Andrew Canale, – On relinquishment of his appointment as Equerry to The Queen. – 1 September 2015
Mark Flanagan – Keeper of the Gardens, Crown Estate, Windsor Great Park – 13 October 2015
Peter Stephen Walter – On relinquishing the role of Finance and Project Co-ordinator, Master of the Household’s Department, Royal Household – 18 December 2015

Honorary

Mónica Gabriela Valdez Murphree – Political Affairs Officer, Embassy of Mexico in the United Kingdom – 3 March 2015
Susana Garduño Arana – Multilateral Affairs Officer, Embassy of Mexico in the United Kingdom – 3 March 2015

Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE)

The Hon. Mrs Justice Philippa Jane Edwards Whipple – 10 November 2015

Honorary

Ana Patricia Botín Sanz de Sautuola O'Shea — for services to the financial services sector
Claudia Ruiz Massieu Salinas – Minister of Tourism of Mexico – 3 March 2015

Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)

Civil Division

Mark Getty – for services to arts and philanthropy
Dr. Hermann Hauser, – for services to engineering and industry
Hiroaki Nakanishi – for services to UK/Japan business cooperation
Martin Naughton, – for services to the Northern Ireland economy, art and philanthropic causes
Xavier Robert Rolet – for services to the financial services industry and young people
Kevin Spacey, – for services to theatre, arts education and international culture
Dr. Ralf Dieter Speth – for services to the British automotive sector
Luis Miguel Gerónimo Barbosa Huerta – President of the Directive Board of the Senate of Mexico – 3 March 2015
Luis Videgaray Caso – Secretary of State for Finance and Public Credit of Mexico – 3 March 2015
Pedro Joaquín Coldwell – Secretary of State for Energy of Mexico – 3 March 2015
Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal – Secretary of State for Economy of Mexico – 3 March 2015
Emilio Chuayffet Chemor – Secretary of State for Public Education of Mexico – 3 March 2015
Juan José Guerra Abud – Secretary of State for Environment and Natural Resources of Mexico – 3 March 2015
Aurelio Nuño Mayer – Head of the Presidential Office of Mexico – 3 March 2015

Military Division

General Roberto Miranda Moreno – Presidential Chief of Staff of Mexico – 3 March 2015

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Military Division

Brigadier Martin Patrick Mooew, late The Royal Logistic Corps
Brigadier Paul Anthony Edward Nanson, , late The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
Colonel David James Lord Swann, , late The Queen’s Royal Hussars
Colonel Gary Paul Wilkinson, , late Royal Regiment of Artillery
Brigadier James Medley Woodham, , late The Royal Anglian Regiment
Brigadier Hugh Hollingworth Blackman, late The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards

Honorary

Dr Paul Vincent Peter Beresford-Hill, , For services to UK/US educational and cultural exchange
Prof. Rivka Carmi, For services to UK/Israel scientific collaboration
Mr Tae Young Chung, For services to enhancing the reputation of contemporary British art in Korea and investment in the UK
James Julian Coleman,
Paul Joseph Drechsler, For services to the construction industry
Karin Birgitta Forseke, For services to the financial services industry
Mr David Carroll Grevemberg, For services to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games
Syed Anwar Hasan, For services to the economy
Prof. Nathu Ram Puri, , For services to business and to charity in the UK and abroad
Professor Owen Patrick Smith, For services to child and adolescent cancer
Eitan Wetheimer, For services to UK/Israel business cooperation
David López Gutiérrez – Head of the Media and Communications Office of the Presidency of Mexico – 3 March 2015
Enrique Cabrero Mendoza – Director of CONACYT– 3 March 2015
Rafael Tovar y de Teresa – President of CONACULTA – 3 March 2015

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Civil Division

Kamal Abu Kalloub, For services to British nationals in Gaza
Ms Angela Maria Brady, For services to architecture and education
Mrs Diane Marguerite Briere de Isle Engelhardt, For voluntary and charitable services in Wales
Etta Cohen, For services to women in business and entrepreneurship
Dr Randy Lee Comfort. For services to children and families
Professor Carlos Henrique de Brito Cruz, For services to scientific cooperation between the UK and Brazil
Mr Patrice Philippe de Martin DE Vivies, For services to Franco-British trade and investment and the energy industry
Kamal Gherbawi, For services to British interests in Gaza
Sung-Joo Kim, For services to UK/South Korea business relations and British social causes
Dr Marion Lyons, For services to public health in Wales
Mr Denis Mulcahy, For services to peace building and youth development in Northern Ireland
Joseph Gerard Mulligan, For services to first aid and community resilience
James Martin O’Callaghan, For services to the construction industry
Dr Frederik Dag Arfst Paulsen, For services to philanthropy, education, the environment, scientific and historical research and to young people
Thomas Evert Petri, For services to UK/USA Parliamentary/Congress relations
Prof. Agostino Pierro, For services to medicine and charity
Dr Ursula Elisabeth Steingenberger-McEwen, For services to science
Dr Isolde Louise Victory, For services to Parliament
Ruby C Wax, For services to mental health
Professor Winston Wen-young Wong, For services to education and research in the UK and to UK/Taiwan education relations
Professor Ulrike Andrea Hildegard Zeshan, For services to higher education and the international deaf community
Jorge Corona Méndez – Assistant Secretary to the President of Mexico – 3 March 2015
Francisco Guzmán Ortiz – Chief of Staff to the President of Mexico – 3 March 2015
Juan Manuel Valle Pereña – General Director AMEXICID – 3 March 2015
Miguel Malvafón Andrade – Director General for Protocol – 3 March 2015
Alejandro Negrín Muñoz – Director General for Europe – 3 March 2015

Military Division

Acting Colonel Jaimie Fraser Roylance, Royal Marines
Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Derek Griffiths Adjutant General’s Corps (Staff and Personnel Support Branch)
Major Neil Alexander Kelly, The Mercian Regiment
Lieutenant Colonel David Brian Kenny, The Royal Irish Regiment
Lieutenant Colonel Richard Oliver Slack, , 9th/12th Royal Lancers
Wing Commander James Peter Penelhum, Royal Air Force
Commander Daniel Clarke, Royal Navy
Commander Michael Daren Smith, Royal Navy
Captain Michael Keith Utley, Royal Navy
Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Peter Norman Ramsay, , Welsh Guards
Lieutenant Colonel Graeme Crichton Wearmouth, The Royal Regiment of Scotland

General Gumaro Cabrera Osornio – Deputy Head of Logistics of the Presidential Guard of Mexico – 3 March 2015
General Enrique García Jaramillo – Coordinator of Sports Promotion of the Presidential Guard of Mexico – 3 March 2015

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Military Division

Major Thomas Armstrong Scott Ryall, Royal Marines
Staff Sergeant Lee Edwin Allen, Intelligence Corps
Corporal Adam Ronald Peter Butler, Corps of Royal Engineers
Captain Edward Philip Challis, The Royal Regiment of Scotland
Major Duane Joseph Fletcher, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps
Captain Duncan Mark Knox, The Parachute Regiment
Captain Declan John Lynn, Adjutant General’s Corps (Educational and Training Services Branch)
Major Jeremy Dawson Walters, Royal Regiment of Artillery
Flight Lieutenant Emma Dutton, Royal Air Force
Warrant Officer Class 1 Samuel George Doak, Royal Marines
Lieutenant Wendy Frame, Royal Navy
Commander Philip John Hally, Royal Navy
Lieutenant Commander Steven Nicholas Wall, Royal Navy
Captain Mark Edward Acklam, The Royal Corps of Signals
Acting Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Charles William Mawdsley, Royal Regiment of Artillery
Acting Lieutenant Colonel Michael Richard Nigel Syewart, Irish Guards
Squadron Leader Calvin George Bailey, Royal Air Force

Honorary

Dr Mohammed Ahmed Abdul Razzaq Alahmed, For services to the British community in Qatar
Brother Seon Jae An, For services to the Royal Asiatic Society and to furthering the study of English Literature in Korea
Maria Victoria Buenaventura
Mary Theresa Ceesay
Patrick Dominick Cregg
Mrs Charlotte Phyllis Anne Joelle Marie Cunningham, For services to children and young people
Sister Rita Dawson,
Gabriele Elisabeth Franklin
Mrs Mandy Maureen Goddard, For services to children and families
Ms Nazli Hamitoglu, For services to Consular support to victims of rape and sexual assault in Turkey
Aaron Matthew Holtz, For services to the promotion of British values at the United Nations
Ms Ayan Mahamoud Mahamed, For services to promoting friendship and cultural understanding between the UK and Somali region
Miss Isabel Munoz, For services to disabled people and disabled access
Agustin Navarrp Alvado, For services to the British community in Benidorm
Ming Gek Ng (Mindy Tay), For services to British commercial interests in Singapore
Agamemnon Otero, For services to the community energy sector
Mrs Graciela Pena Perez, For services to British visitors to Cancun and the Riviera Maya, Mexico
Clarinda Justina Salandy, For services to carnival design
Joanna Hannah Basilio Teh, For services to British nationals in the Philippines during Typhoon Haiyan
Petr Torak, For services to the Roma community in Peterborough
Suha Zeidan, For services to British nationals in the Occupied Palestinian Territories
Julio César Guerrero Martin – Private Secretary for the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Mexico – 3 March 2015
Héctor Agustín Ortega Nieto – Chief of Staff to the Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs of Mexico – 3 March 2015

British Empire Medal (BEM)

Colin Taylor, For services to the Homeless Community. – 13 March 2015

Honorary

Zergaw Asfera Andarge, For services to the British Embassy, Khartoum
Drew Henry Avery
Mrs Mary Margaret Daly, For services to the Butterfly Appeal Campaign for Multiple Sclerosis Therapy and to the community in Ashford, Kent
Olga Clara Denyer
Mary-Rose Egan
Major (Retired) Yambahadur Gurung
Abdullah Kuce, For services to the security of the British Consulate-General, Istanbul
Frederick Alphonsus McDwyer
Anne Eileen MC Mahon
Mr Bernard Désiré Ernest Potaux, For services to UK/French relations and remembrance
Woon Young Song
Isabel Maria Lopes Spencer
Hisako Zafar - for services to Business and to the Asian community.

Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Lieutenant Colonel James Rowland Martin, , The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment
Major Thomas Robson McDermott, The Royal Tank Regiment
Lieutenant Colonel James Christopher Roddis, ,The Royal Regiment of Scotland

Military Cross (MC)

Staff Sergeant Paul Jonathon Billingham, Royal Marines
Captain William Andrew Hall, Royal Regiment of Artillery
Major Angus Myles Arthur Tilney, The King’s Royal Hussars

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Flight Lieutenant Laura Alice Hilary Nicholson, Royal Air Force

Air Force Cross (AFC)

Flight Lieutenant Edward Thomas Berwick, Royal Air Force
Flight Lieutenant Timothy Neil Eeddy, Royal Air Force
Lieutenant Commander Christopher Torben Gotke, Royal Navy
Flight Lieutenant Ian McIver Campbell, Royal Air Force

Queen's Fire Service Medal (QFSM)

Dale Anthony Ashford, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service. – 6 February 2015

Queen's Gallantry Medal (QGM)

Paul Lye – 6 February 2015
Corporal Jonathan Mckeag, Royal Marines
Petty Officer Aircrewman Russell James Adams, Royal Navy
Sergeant Daniel Martin Allanson, Royal Air Force

Royal Red Cross

Associate Royal Red Cross (ARRC)

Leading Naval Nurse Laura Jane Fallon, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Staff
Squadron Leader Charlotte Joanne Thompson-Edgar, Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service

Mentioned in Despatches

Queen's Commendation for Bravery

Warrant Officer Class 1 Simon James William Hsll, , The Royal Logistic Corps
Private John Steven Pyatt-Payne, The Mercian Regiment
Petty Officer (Diver) Richard Anthony Brown, Royal Navy
Lieutenant Commander Robin Leslie Suckling, Royal Navy
Corporal Alexander Harries, Adjutant General’s Corps (Royal Military Police)
Officer Cadet Frances Margaret Emma Townend, University Officer Training Corps Army Reserve